On Dec. 20 at 9:30 p.m. local time, lava started flowing out of the walls of the Halema’uma’u crater at Kīlauea’s summit for the first time in more than two years. This photo was taken just before 5 a.m. on Dec 21. The main lava fountain height is about 18 meters (59 feet). Credit: USGS

On Dec. 20 at 9:30 p.m. local time, lava started flowing out of the walls of the Halema'uma'u crater at Kīlauea’s summit for the first time in more than two years. This photo was taken just before 5 a.m. on Dec 21. The main lava fountain height is about 18 meters (59 feet). Credit: USGS

On Dec. 20 at 9:30 p.m. local time, lava started flowing out of the walls of the Halema’uma’u crater at Kīlauea’s summit for the first time in more than two years. This photo was taken just before 5 a.m. on Dec 21. The main lava fountain height is about 18 meters (59 feet). Credit: USGS

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