The active Kilauea volcano appeared to be smiling. Lava from Kilauea volcano reached ocean for first time since 2013. frame grab of Mick Kalber/ (Photo: Mick Kalber, Paradise Helicopters) 
 
 It takes more muscles to frown than to smile, but it took a volcanic eruption to see nature's grin. 
 
 Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, one of the world's most active, recently formed a smiley face in its over 80-feet deep crater during an ongoing eruption. 
 
 Mick Kalber of Paradise Helicopters captured the breakthtaking scene. 
 
 Kilauea volcano in Hawaii seems to be in especially good mood, credits: Paradise Helicopters pic.twitter.com/L7pa35evQO — David Bressan (@David_Bressan) July 31, 2016 
 
 The current lava flow began May 24 and reached the Pacific Ocean for the first time since 2013 on July 26 after traveling over six miles. According to the United States Geological Survey, Kilauea has been continuously erupting since 1983. 
 
 Hikers are able to get up close and personal to the lava flow, but the USGS advises they bring plenty of water and prepare for extreme heat. 
 
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 Oh, hi, volcano. 
 
 A friendly "smiley face" popped up during a volcanic eruption on Kilauea, in Hawaii. Mick Kalber of helicopter tour company Paradise Helicopters captured the image while flying over the scene on Wednesday. 
 
 Just think of it as nature sending you an emoji. 

 Kilauea lava flow elicits crowds, smiles 
 
 Is the volcano goddess Pele smiling? 
 
 Volcano videographer Mick Kalber, of Tropical Visions Video, captured this image on video of what appears to be a crooked smiley face in the lava lake at Puu Oo vent on Wednesday, a day after lava reached the ocean from the Puu Oo. 
 
 The cracks of bright molten lava in the lake are formed as lava circulates and the black, semi-solid lake surface pulls apart. 
 
 At the Kamokuna ocean entry, the sight of the lava falling over a steep ocean cliff to the sea has attracted thousands of visitors. 
 
 Geologists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that the lava flow into the ocean widened slightly this morning along the west margin of the front to about 66 feet across. 
 
 Video taken from a tour helicopter Wednesday shows lava covering rocks at the bottom of the cliff and a black sand beach near the ocean entry. 
 
 Keaka Hunter, a security guard patrolling the area at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, said about 2,000 people came to see the flow Monday night, hours before the lava entered the ocean for the first time in nearly three years. Previous days drew an average of about 1,000 people. 
 
 The U.S. Geological Survey is cautioning visitors about safety risks, which include flying debris and acidic plume containing fine volcanic particles that can irritate the eyes, skin and lungs. The new land may also be unstable because it’s built on unconsolidated lava fragments and sand, which can easily be eroded by surf. 
 
 Visitors hoping to catch the picturesque views have hiked the more than 4-mile route along a gravel road to get a closer look. Signs posted at the Kalapana entrance warn visitors to bring plenty of water and “be ready a long hard hike.” 
 
 Derek Scott, a 16-year-old visitor from Canada, was one of those who made the journey through the county viewing area and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to catch a glimpse of the lava flow from Kilauea’s Puu Oo vent. 
 
 “It was nice with the wind, but it was still really hot, so it was a long walk for us,” Scott told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. “But it was really cool seeing the lava flow. I’ve never actually seen it that close by. The heat that radiates off the body when you’re that close to it is amazing.” 
 
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 Star-Advertiser web producer Craig Gima contributed to this story.
– Video of a volcano that appears to be smiling has gone viral after Mick Kalber of helicopter tour company Paradise Helicopters happened to be in the right place (Hawaii) at the right time (Wednesday), Mashable reports. ABC 10 reports that the video shows the Kilauea volcano, which is one of the most active in the world. It's been continuously erupting since 1983. "This is a lava lake that is within the Pu'u 'O'o vent," the tour company says on Facebook. "The vent itself is much, much larger than the lake. The lake is on a raised portion of the bottom of the vent on the western side." As the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports, the cracks in the lake are formed as lava circulates and the surface of the lake pulls apart, allowing the lava to show through the black surface.