What Is Pele's Hair? Residents Warned As Hawaii's Mauna Loa Volcano Erupts

Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano in the world, has begun erupting for the first time in 38 years.

Officials warned residents on Hawaii's Big Island to stay alert but said the eruption did not pose an imminent threat to homes or infrastructure.

After Mauna Loa began erupting at about 11.30 p.m. Sunday (4.30 a.m. ET Monday), residents were warned about winds that could carry volcanic gas, fine ash and thin volcanic glass fibers, known as "Pele's Hair," according to the Sacramento Bee.

"Lava flows are not threatening any downslope communities and all indications are that the eruption will remain in the Northeast Rift Zone. Volcanic gas and possibly fine ash and Pele's Hair may be carried downwind," the U.S. Geological Survey said in an advisory.

Pele's Hair is a byproduct of volcanic eruptions, resembling a golden mat made of long, fragile strands of hair. These strands pile up on the ground near Hawaii's volcanic summits.

The strands contain thin and delicate glass fibers and they are named after the Hawaiian volcano deity — Pele.

"These long, fragile strands are formed by gas during a volcanic eruption. When bubbles of gas near the surface of a lava flow burst, it can stretch the skin of the molten lava into long threads," the National Park Service explained on its website.

A single strand could be up to a couple of feet long with a thickness of only one micron (.001 mm).

The strands are extremely light, making it easy for them to be swept up by the wind. Although they are fragile, they are also sharp and can be dangerous.

"As tiny pieces of glass, they can become lodged in human skin and much worse, eyes. Caution around the fibers is necessary to avoid injury from the slivers," the website added.

When the strands accumulate, they form dense golden mats that can be up to a few inches deep in low-lying areas.

According to local beliefs, the Hawaiian volcano deity Pele was the creator of volcanic landscapes. She both destroys and creates new land, according to the National Park Service's website.

The lava flow from Mauna Loa has created a rare dual-eruption event in Hawaii because a smaller volcano, Kilauea, has also been erupting since last year, according to CNN. Kilauea is about 21 miles away from Mauna Loa's summit crater.

"The new eruption, which is the first time Mauna Loa has erupted since 1984, is expected to draw an influx of visitors to the park who hope to see a rare dual eruption from both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes," Hawaii Volcanoes National Park wrote on Facebook.