The Everlasting Storm By: Tianna

Near the Catatumbo River in Venezuela, a swirling mass of clouds creates a rare spectacle known as the Catatumbo lightning. The storm occurs up to 160 nights a year, 10 hours per day, and 280 times an hour. The Venezuelan storms generate an estimated 1.2 million lightning strikes a year. The lightning strikes over the Catatumbo Delta are visible from almost 250 miles away. Theories about the cause of the continuous lightning differ, but one explanation is that high winds sweep across the river and form clouds when they meet the Andean mountains. The storm also acts as a type of natural lighthouse for nearby fisherman so they can navigate the water at night without problems.