Science Fact - 13

Tuesday, August 6, 2013
The Catatumbo Lightning is an atmospheric phenomenon in Venezuela

It causes lightning during 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours per day and up to 280 times per hour. It occurs over and around Lake Maracaibo, typically over the bog area formed where the Catatumbo River flows into the lake.


It originates from a mass of storm clouds at a height of more than 5 km. It occurs only over the mouth of the Catatumbo River where it empties into Lake Maracaibo

The lightning have been continued for centuries, ceasing only in 2010 for three months (January - April) probably due to drought.

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