Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela where lightning occurs with higher frequency in the world, averaging from 140 to 160 nights / year, 10 hours / day and 28 times / minute.
Catatumbo lightning phenomenon special atmosphere in Venezuela. It just happened in Catatumbo river mouth - into Lake Maracaibo region, Zulia state, northwest of the country. This is where the record number and frequency of lightning strikes the most in the world. Catatumbo lightning originates from the large storm cloud at altitudes over 5,000 m.
With a number of powerful lightning occurs frequently in a small area, Lake Maracaibo is the place to create ozone in the troposphere unique in the world.
One can see the light from the lightning in the distance over 400 km. They create a brilliant glow on the horizon.
Locals know to Catatumbo lightning from many centuries ago. They used to call this phenomenon the "rib a-ba" or "river of fire" and consider it a sign of the gods. In the colonial period of the Caribbean, sailors use the light from the lighthouse lightning as navigation.
Depending on the moisture content of the air in the night, the lightning appear with different colors and even color changes in one night. When humidity is high, the water droplets in the air very small. We like the prism light scattering and help create stunning thunderbolt from full color red, pink, orange to purple. When humidity is low, the white lightning.
Residents and scientists give many explanations for Catatumbo lightning phenomenon. In the 1960s, the uranium mines in the region is believed smoking causes lightning. However, the most common explanation for this unique phenomenon is due to a combination of topographic and atmospheric Maracaibo lake in the region, such as wind and temperature cause the formation and development of storm large. A reasonable assumption is that Lake Maracaibo is located on the top of one of the world's largest oil field, which produces large amounts of methane. They leak into the atmosphere and increases the electrical conductivity.
After appearing continuously for centuries, the lightning stopped on Lake Maracaibo formed from January 1 to 4/2010 by drought. However, they appear again after only a few months. Recently, Catatumbo lightning is recorded in Guinness Book of Records because it appeared to 300 nights / year.
thanks, verry good
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