A timelapse video has documented a rare spectacle: a volcano erupting amidst the ethereal glow of the northern lights.
Shared by the news agency AP, the footage showcases the volcanic activity on the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland.
The phenomenon of the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, occurs when solar wind – comprised of charged particles emanating from the sun – interacts with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere.
The Reykjanes peninsula has experienced multiple eruptions this year, prompting the declaration of a state of emergency in southern Iceland in March.
Magma had been accumulating underground on the Reykjanes peninsula near Iceland’s capital Reykjavik since the last eruption in February, prompting authorities to warn of an imminent eruption.
Man-made barriers have been successful in steering the lava away from infrastructure, including the Svartsengi geothermal power plant and Grindavik, a fishing town of some 4000 residents.
Lava flowing from the volcano was backdropped by the northern lights on March 24.Credit: AP
Footage from public broadcaster RUV showed lava flowing a few hundred metres from the town, which was evacuated during an eruption in November and again after another one in February.
While much of life goes on in Iceland, the eruptions disrupt tourism in a country that relies heavily on visitors.
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