Courtesy of USGS
As one of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kilauea’s eruption is no surprise. But the lava flows are always stunning to watch.
Scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory say the floor of Kilauea dropped at least 377 feet Saturday afternoon, cracking open a fissure in the volcano and kicking off the lava flow. At the peak of the show, lava was shooting more than 80 feet into the air.
(More on TIME.com: See the folklore associated with Kilauea)
Kilauea, located on the big island of Hawaii, is a shield volcano, so it doesn’t have a massive cone, but instead a broad-reaching base. The volcano has been in a constant state of eruption since in 1983, but splattering lava comes rarely, only every few years.
Currently it’s erupting in a remote area along the volcano’s eastern ridge. About 150 small earthquakes have been recorded within Kilauea. While no homes or people are threatened, volcanologists (possibly the coolest title ever) have closed the area to visitors.
NewsFeed thanks Madame Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, for the incredible sights this Monday morning.
Live views of the volcano’s eruption are updated frequently by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. And check out more stunning photos of the spewing lava thanks to the U.S. Geological Survey.
(More on TIME.com: See the spectacular eruption of Iceland’s volcano)