Endless storm. Where on Earth there are more lightning strikes (photos)
Fascinating natural phenomenon.
In the North-West of Venezuela, at the confluence of the river Catatumbo, lake Maracaibo, is constantly going on is very beautiful and mysterious natural phenomenon called “lightning, Catatumbo” or “infinite storm of Catatumbo”.
Number of stormy days per year is 70 to 200. During a night of storms can be up to 28 flashes per minute.
Overall, storm cloud over the Catatumbo produces about a million zippers per year, amperage of each of which is about 400 thousand amps.
Electrical discharges visible at a distance of 160 miles. For this reason, lightning, Catatumbo also called the lighthouse, because for many centuries it is for these flashes in the sky sailors were sent to their ships.
The cause of “a million lightning” scientists call methane, which is rich in the atmosphere of these wetlands. He rises into the air and is carried by the strong cold winds from the Andes. Methane, weakening the insulating properties of the air in the cloud, causing the frequent appearance of lightning.
See also:
- Meteorologists have shown why you should not hide under a tree in a thunderstorm
- Skateboard saved American student from a lightning strike
- Tartan took video of the lightning that struck in her phone