The greatest volcano eruption in recorded history is the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora on the island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Mount Tambora is a stratovolcano, meaning it is a tall conical volcano made of hardened lava and volcanic ash. Mount Tambora lost about one-third of its original height. The eruption also formed a caldera and carder lake. The eruption lasted an entire week and the ash blocked out the sun. Sounds of the eruption was thought to be cannon so armies started to march to the area. It was not until the volcanic ash started to fall until the armies knew it was a volcano eruption. The falling volcanic ash destroyed many homes. The volcanic ash blanket also destroyed 95 percent of the current rice crops so immediately after the