Kilauea lava reached the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday after making its way to the water from the volcano for weeks.
Lava from the volcano, located on Hawaii's big island, extended southeast of Pu'u 'O'o and reached the Pacific Ocean for the first time at 1:12 a.m., local time,
according to the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaii Volcano Observatory.
The observatory stated, though, that the lava flow "poses no threat to nearby communities."
"The lava lake at Halema'uma'u Crater continues to circulate and intermittently spatter. Seismicity and deformation rates throughout the volcano remain at background levels," the observatory stated Tuesday.
The Huffington Post reported the videos and photos of the event showed the bright red lava, with the temperature of about 2,000 degrees, rolling down the rocky southeastern coastline of Hawaii, resulting in a cloud of steam when it reached the water.
According to a 2014 Live Science article, Kilauea is one of the planet's most active volcanos, with its summit topping 4,190 feet above sea level. It covers about 14 percent of Hawaii's Big Island. The website said the lava lake at the summit's caldera is known as Halema'uma'u.
"To the casual observer, Kilauea appears to be part of the larger volcano Mauna Loa, but geological data indicates that it is a separate volcano with its own vent and conduit system," Live Science noted at the time.
"Kilauea has had 61 recorded eruptions in the current cycle, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and has been erupting on a continuous basis since 1983. The long-lasting eruption has destroyed more than 200 structures, including the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park visitor center, the Royal Gardens subdivision and many homes and buildings in the town of Kalapana."
KHON-TV warned that people interested in seeing the lava flow should beware that the sea cliffs around the location are "uneven and unstable."
"As lava hits the water, it triggers flying debris as well as an acidic plume laden with volcanic particles that can irritate your skin, eyes, and lungs," KHON-TV reported.
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