The Greatest Show on Earth
The Catatumbo Lightning (Spanish Relámpago del Catatumbo) is an atmospheric phenomenon in Venezuela. It occurs only over the mouth of the Catatumbo River where it empties into Lake Maracaibo. The frequent, powerful flashes of lightning over this relatively small area are considered to be the world's largest single generator of tropospheric ozone.
It originates from a mass of storm clouds at a height of more than 5 km, and occurs during 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours per day and up to 280 times per hour. Each stroke discharges with an intensity equal to 100,000 to 400,000 amps or enough to power every light bulb in South America. These flashes are visible for over 250 miles, and for over hundreds of years, due to the amazingly constant and repeated appearance of the phenomena, sailers have used the lighting as a navigational aid, and even call it the Maracaibo Lighthouse, or Beacon of Maracaibo.
It originates from a mass of storm clouds at a height of more than 5 km, and occurs during 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours per day and up to 280 times per hour. Each stroke discharges with an intensity equal to 100,000 to 400,000 amps or enough to power every light bulb in South America. These flashes are visible for over 250 miles, and for over hundreds of years, due to the amazingly constant and repeated appearance of the phenomena, sailers have used the lighting as a navigational aid, and even call it the Maracaibo Lighthouse, or Beacon of Maracaibo.
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Even more spectacular, is the visual spectrum of the lightning varies from night to night, depending on the relative moisture content. On dry nights, the lightning appears white because there no droplets of water acting as refractors. Conversely, when the air is moisture laden, the visible spectrum splits up the flashes into spectacular red, orange and even violet light shows.
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Considering this phenomenon has been going on for centuries, scientists are still not been able to figure out why. Many meteorologists feel that the interaction of the area's unusual topography, with Lake Maracaibo being sheltered by the high Andes on three sides, and a low level jet stream from the Caribbean help fuel this light show night after night. Others question if the heavy uranium deposits in the area might be a factor.
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The mystery continues, but in the meantime, mother nature still demonstrates she can provide the very best fireworks display anywhere on Earth.
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