Did you know that in Venezuela there is a place where it almost never stops lightning for most of the year?

The "Catatumbo lightning," a unique atmospheric phenomenon, occurs in the Zulia state of Venezuela, specifically in the Catatumbo River basin.

In this place, the sky lights up with thousands of electric flashes for approximately 260 nights a year, creating an unmatched natural spectacle.

The phenomenon occurs at the confluence of Lake Maracaibo and the Catatumbo River, where the humidity and warm air of the Venezuelan plains meet the cold masses of the Andes.

This clash of currents generates intense electrical activity, with up to 280 lightning strikes per hour in a single spot, something that is not seen anywhere else in the world.

For this reason, it is called "the lighthouse of Catatumbo," as its glow is visible from kilometers away and has served as a guide for navigators for centuries.

Unlike normal storms, Catatumbo lightning does not always produce sound.

This "silence" is due to the distance between the clouds and the ground, preventing the thunder from reaching the observation point and creating a calm atmosphere in the night sky.

One theory suggests that the gas composition in the region, particularly the methane from swampy areas, could enhance electrical discharges, although this aspect is still under investigation.

For local inhabitants, the phenomenon is part of their identity.

Indigenous communities like the Wayuu and the Añú include it in their mythologies, considering it a message from the gods or a protective symbol.

Moreover, the Catatumbo lightning is one of the largest producers of tropospheric ozone on the planet, which helps neutralize pollutants, giving this amazing natural phenomenon an ecological role. #venezuela #nostr