
A photographer captured incredible footage of a Hawaiian volcano's lava flow 'smiling' as it reached the Pacific Ocean.

The aerial video shows Kilauea's lava reaching the coast as it flowed down its slopes in the rugged Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on earlier this week.

The video which was taken by Paradise Helicopters show the volcano appear to form a giant smiley face as it pumps out lava into the sea.

The Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has erupted, however the volcano appears to be 'smiling' when seen from the air

Pictures from the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, also show lava reaching the ocean for first time since 2013

The pictures of what look like eyes and a smile can be seen from above the volcano's crater. Authorities have said the lava poses no threat to any towns, but have cautioned tourists to keep their distance

Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes. It is a shield-type volcano that makes up the southeastern side of the Big Island of Hawaii, according to LiveScience.

The volcano rises 4,190 feet above sea level and is about 14 per cent of the land area of the Big Island.

The 6.5 mile-long lava flow has been dribbling down the south flank of Kilauea since May and finally reached the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday morning.

According to the USGS, the flow is about 20 meters (66 feet) wide when it finally spills over the cliff into the sea.

Sometimes Mother Nature takes your breath away – and makes you smile. Lava from the volcano, located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, began erupting in late May and has been continuously moving on a six-mile journey toward the coast

For the first time since 2013, one of Kilauea’s lava flows this week reached the Pacific Ocean – producing spectacular scenes as the red-hot lava cascaded off cliffs on Hawaii’s Big Island

A photographer captured incredible footage of a Hawaiian volcano's lava flow as it engulfed a forest

The aerial video shows Kilauea's lava engulfing a forest on it slopes in the rugged Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on July 9

The red-hot lava creates huge plumes of steam as it hits the water and begins cooling into rock, delighting locals and eager tourists.

The USGS warns that getting too close can be extremely dangerous, and even deadly. The agency has released a pamphlet listing the risks from collapsing ledges, acid fumes, steam vents that can toss rocks and jets of hot lava — not to mention the risk of heat stroke, sprained ankles and other injuries on the hike.

Kilauea has been active since 1983, but this is the first time in three years that lava has reached the ocean.

The Puu Oo vent of the active Kilauea volcano has seen recent and ongoing eruptions of lava snaking across the volcano's south flank toward the ocean

In the video, the crackle of the burning wood can be heard as the photographer captures different angles of the snaking lava

Lava from Kilauea advanced along the flatter coastal plain, a little less than a mile from the ocean

Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes. It is a shield-type volcano that makes up the southeastern side of the Big Island of Hawaii

The volcano rises 4,190 feet above sea level and is about 14 per cent of the land area of the Big Island

Visitors can view the lava flow at the Kalapana Lava Viewing Area at the end of Highway 130, near the eastern edge of the national park, offering many the chance to enjoy a good look at the lava