Wanderlusteve
"Centered on the mouth of the Río Catatumbo, where it runs into the vast Lago de Maracaibo, the Relámpago de Catatumbo (Catatumbo Lightning) is an amazing phenomenon that consists of frequent flashes of lightning with little or no accompanying thunder. The eerie, silent electrical storm can be so strong and constant that you will often be able to read this book at night. The phenomenon can be observed at night all over the region, weather permitting, from as far away as Maracaibo and San Cristóbal. You’ll get a glimpse of it traveling by night on the Maracaibo–San Cristóbal or San Cristóbal–Valera roads but, the closer you get, the more impressive the spectacle becomes. Tours organized from Mérida are the easiest way to see the Catatumbo lightning close up, and normally involve an enjoyable boat journey from Puerto Concha down the Río Catatumbo (look out for the incredible birdlife, caimens and howler monkeys), before spending the night in hammocks in a simple over-water posada on Lago de Maracaibo. Various hypotheses have been put forth to explain the lightning, but so far none have been proven. The theory that stands out is based on the topography of the region, characterized by the proximity of 5000m-high mountains (the Andes) and a vast sea-level lake (Lago de Maracaibo) – a dramatic configuration found nowhere else in the world. The clash of the cold winds descending from the freezing highlands with the hot, humid air evaporating from the lake is thought to produce the ionization of air particles responsible for the lightning. Sightings are best from September through November, when there can be 150 to 200 flashes per minute. All Mérida travel agencies can arrange the tours, which normally include staying at one of two posadas with similar facilities."
POI name: Catatumbo Lightning
POI types: tourism-viewpoint
OSM data version: 2017-10-20T12:20:02Z
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