Maracaibon lake, which is the most hit by lightning in the world

Maracaibo lake in Venezuela is where lightning appears with the highest frequency in the world, averaging 140 to 160 nights / year, 10 hours / day and 28 times / minute .

Place of lightning strikes 28 times / minute

Catatumbo lightning is a special atmospheric phenomenon in Venezuela.It happens only at the mouth of the Catatumbo River - the area that flows into Maracaibo Lake, Zulia State, northwest of the country.This is where the number and frequency of lightning strikes are highest in the world.Catatumbo lightning originates from large storm clouds at altitudes above 5,000 m.(Photo: Alan Highton)

With a large amount of strong lightning strikes on a small area, Lake Maracaibo is the only place to create ozone in the troposphere in the world.(Photo: Alamy)

One can see light from lightning at a distance of more than 400 km.They create a brilliant light on the horizon.(Photo: Mysteriousuniverse)

Local people know lightning from Catatumbo centuries ago.They called this phenomenon "rib a-three" or "fire river" and considered it a sign of the gods.In the colonial period of the Caribbean, sailors used light from lightning like a beacon.(Photo: Alan Highton)

Depending on the humidity of the air during the night, lightning strikes appear in different colors and even change color in just one night.When the humidity is high, the droplets in the air are very small.They are like prisms that help scatter light and create stunning lightning rays of all colors from bright red, pink, orange to purple.When the humidity is low, the lightning is white.(Photo: Mysteriousuniverse)

People and the scientific community gave many explanations for Catatumbo lightning phenomenon.In the 1960s, uranium deposits in the area were thought to be responsible for lightning.However, the most common explanation for this unique phenomenon is due to the combination of Lake Maracaibo terrain and the atmosphere in the region, such as wind and temperature, which are responsible for the formation and development of storms. great.Another reasonable assumption is that the Maracaibo Lake is on the top of one of the world's largest oil fields, which produces a large amount of methane gas.They leak into the air and increase electrical conductivity.(Photo: Alan Highton)

After appearing continuously for centuries, lightning stopped forming on Lake Maracaibo from January to April 2010 due to drought.However, they reappear after only a few months.Recently, Lightning Catatumbo was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records because it appeared up to 300 nights / year.(Photo: Mysteriousuniverse)