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See Iceland’s Volcano Raging Under the Northern Lights In 1 Amazing Image

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Since the Aug. 31 eruption of Iceland’s Bardarbunga volcano, the world has watched in awe as it spews glowing red lava into the desolate landscape. Bardarbunga has stemmed a series of earthquakes through the country, but the eruption has also become the subject of some incredible photographs, videos, and satellite images.

Icelandic photographer Gísli Dúa Hjörleifsson, who is also a ranger in the area, may have captured the most epic images of all: the hot glow of the volcanic eruption underneath cool and ethereal haze of the northern lights, or the aurora borealis.

A volcano erupts under the aurora borealis in the east highlands of Iceland near Snæfell on Sept. 2, 2014.
The Bardarbunga volcano erupts under the aurora borealis in the Holuhraun lava field in the east highlands of Iceland near Snæfell on Sept. 2, 2014.Gísli Dúa Hjörleifsson

“In my many years of working in the highland of Iceland both as a photographer and ranger, I . . . have a knowledge of the nature and especially the way the light has an huge influence in the landscape,” Hjörleifsson told TIME. “Knowing the current situation of the volcano I wanted to capture this unique situation. I drove up in the area surrounding the volcano and watched the the sky until I could see the northern lights taking shape. That interaction with the heat and color from the volcano created a completely new color palette I have never seen [before].”

Look at These Incredible Close-Ups of a Volcanic Eruption in Iceland

Glowing lava flows from an eruption at the Holuhraun lava field near Bardarbunga. Sept. 2.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-Images.com
Lava erupts up to 100 meters in the air at Bardarbunga, Sept. 2, 2014.
Lava bursts up to some 328 feet (100 meters) in the air near Bardarbunga. Sept. 2.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-Images.com
Creeping lava and a mirage from the heat distorting the view of the lava fountains in the distance. The heat may be over 1000 degrees Celsius. Bardarbunga, Sept. 2, 2014.
Heat from the lava distorts the view of the fountains in the distance near Bardarbunga. Sept. 2.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-Images.com
A late afternoon wide angle view over a part of the 2 km long fissure erupting and the cloud of fumes and steam rising into the air.
A late afternoon view of part of the fissure erupting as fumes and steam rise into the air near Bardarbunga. Sept. 2.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-Images.com
Lava fountain and black lava in the foreground. Bardarbunga / Holuhraun eruption. Iceland Central Highlands 2014.
A fountain splashes up over a layer of cooled black lava in the foreground near Bardarbunga. Sept. 2.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-Images.com
The lava-producing fissure eruption began on Aug. 31, but part of it was already extinct the next day. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.
The lava-producing fissure eruption began on Aug. 31, but part of it was already extinct the next day. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-images.com
Much of the eruption plume is water vapor. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.
Much of the eruption plume is water vapor. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-images.com
A pulled-back view of the lava flow and massive plumb of water vapor. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.
A pulled-back view of the lava flow and massive plumb of water vapor. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-images.com
Individual craters, made of lava spatter and scoria around each vent, line the active fissure. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.
Individual craters, made of lava spatter and scoria around each vent, line the active fissure. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-images.com
A close-up view of the lava flow and massive plumb of water vapor. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.
A close-up view of the lava flow and massive plumb of water vapor. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1, 2014.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-images.com
Heavy activity in the northern half of the fissure sent a white plumb some 15,000 feet into the sky and pushed lava across the cold sand below. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.
Heavy activity in the northern half of the fissure sent a white plumb some 15,000 feet into the sky and pushed lava across the cold sand below. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-images.com

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Write to Mia Tramz at mia.tramz@time.com