Seventeen Apocalyptic Photos of the Taal Volcano in the Philippines

nightqueen

Jan 16, 2020 7:08 AM EST

The Taal volcano in the Philippines has just erupted, and the footage coming out of the country looks other-worldly. The Taal volcano, which has erupted 34 times in the past, has been putting on quite a show in the days leading up to it's eruption. As if a volcano erupting with lava isn't frightening enough, a plume of smoke and ash climbs one kilometer into the sky and flashes continually with lightning, and rains thick ash on the ground below.

Volcanic lightning is caused by colliding particles of volcanic ash, which create static electricity within the volcanic cloud. The photos and videos of this phenomenon looks like something from a science fiction movie, and we're fascinated and terrified by how dramatic nature can be. Check out the most jaw-dropping photos of the Taal volcano below. Or check out the oldest material on Earth, which was very recently found (here's a hint: it's 7 billion years old).