Photos: Mauna Loa, the biggest active volcano on Earth, erupts

Dec. 5

Lava shoots up from a fissure of the Mauna Loa volcano as it erupts.

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Dec. 5

Lava flows from a fissure during the volcano's eruption.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Dec. 5

Lava flows from a fissure.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Dec. 5

Lava flows over a road.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Dec. 4

Fissure 3 erupts on the northeast rift zone of the volcano.

U.S. Geological Survey/AFP/Getty Images

Dec. 4

Lava spatter is projected from fissure 3.

L. Gallant/U.S. Geological Survey/AFP/Getty Images

Dec. 3

A person sets up a camera to photograph the eruption.

Go Nakamura/Reuters

Dec. 2

People observe the volcanic eruption.

Go Nakamura/Reuters

Dec. 2

Cars snake along a roadway viewing area as people attempt to view the eruption.

Ronit Fahl/AFP/Getty Images

Dec. 2

Mauna Loa erupts.

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Dec. 2

From left, Ashlyn Nadeau; her husband, Casey Nadeau; Jessica Doyle; and Justin Potter take a picture as the volcano erupts.

Gregory Bull/AP

Nov. 30

A man views the lava erupting from the volcano.

Gregory Bull/AP

Nov. 30

Ingrid Yang, left, and Kelly Bruno, both of San Diego, take a photo in front of lava erupting from the volcano.

Gregory Bull/AP

Nov. 30

The northeast rift zone eruption of Mauna Loa.

K. Mulliken, US Geological Survey/AFP/Getty Images

Nov. 29

The dominant fissure 3 erupting on the northeast rift zone.

U.S. Geological Survey/AFP/Getty Images

Nov. 29

Lava flows move downslope the Mauna Loa volcano from the northeast rift zone on the Island of Hawaii.

David Fee/Reuters

Nov. 29

Spectators watch the lava flow down from the volcano.

Marco Garcia/AP

Nov. 29

Erupting lava flows down Mauna Loa's mountain.

Marco Garcia/AP

Nov. 28

Lava flows from Mokuaweoweo Crater down Mauna Loa's northeast side.

Bruce Omori/Paradise Helicopters/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Nov. 28

In this long exposure photograph, cars drive down Saddle Road as Mauna Loa erupts in the distance.

Marco Garcia/AP

Nov. 28

People watch the eruption of Mauna Loa near Hilo, Hawaii.

Marco Garcia/AP

Nov. 28

In this satellite image, lava flows from the Mauna Loa volcano. Officials told people living on Hawaii's Big Island to be ready in the event of a worst-case scenario.

Maxar Technologies/AP

Nov. 28

Cars are parked near an ancient lava field as Mauna Loa erupts.

Marco Garcia/AP

Nov. 28

The eruption was initially limited to the volcano’s summit, but lava later began to flow out of its northeast side.

Ronit Fahl/AFP/Getty Images

Nov. 28

People watch the glow from lava erupting from Mauna Loa.

Caleb Jones/AP

Nov. 28

Mauna Loa erupts.

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Nov. 28

Wendy Stovall, a U.S. Geological Survey volcanologist, said the flow on the volcano's northeast side was good news for the Kona area, on the west side of the island, where steep slopes mean lava flows can arrive in just a few hours.

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Nov. 28

A helicopter aerial view of the lava.

Samantha Hansen, Safari Helicopters/Reuters

Nov. 28

The volcano’s slopes on its northeast side are gradual, meaning it could take weeks or more for any populated areas to face significant danger from the lava.

Bruce Omori/Paradise Helicopters/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Nov. 28

A fissure and lava flows in the northeast rift zone.

K. Lynn/USGS/Reuters

Nov. 28

The northeast rift zone eruption of Mauna Loa.

USGS/Civil Air Patrol/Reuters

Nov. 28

Lava fountains in the northeast rift zone.

K. Lynn/USGS/Reuters

Nov. 28

Mauna Loa, one of the Earth’s most active volcanoes, has erupted 33 times since 1843, according to the USGS.

Twitter @pfranci2/REUTERS