The remote lake where lightning strikes 1.6 million times per year - BBC REEL

In a remote part of Venezuela, the Catatumbo River meets Lake Maracaibo. It's a stunning location and home to one of Earth's most extraordinary weather phenomena - the Catatumbo lightning.
It's estimated that lightning strikes over the lake 1.6 million times per year, making it a storm chaser's dream.
Environmentalist Erik Quiroga explains his deep connection to this unique phenomenon and why it's of so much interest to scientists and locals alike.
Video by Rafael Hernandez
Narrator / Executive Producer: Howard Timberlake
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[@naiteakhiangte1773]

For those wondering, why? The lake of Maracaibo is surrounded by mountains on three sides. The water is quite warm all through the years. The warm lakes is a source of heat and humidity for the formation of nimbus clouds, hence, lead to thunderstorms.

[@jedidiantep6756]

Thanks for explanation ! This sounds obvious

[@sourabhpanse]

This is prediction

[@GeorgeVenturi]

UFO underground base

[@ratedEG]

I lived in a city surrounded by mountains with ocean on one side but it was cold ocean water and never got rain as a child

[@ianhilton7083]

That actually answered my unanswered question in this clip. So I thank you

[@kianawilcox253]

What this man said around 0:27 is very poetic, and so beautiful.

[@andyroughcut4521]

Sometimes, life can be beautiful

[@BRITISHFURY_1664]

​@@andyroughcut4521 sometimes...

[@ksainathkashyap6657]

@@BRITISHFURY_1664 thats the beauty.... U realise its beautiful coz its "sometimes" and not always To experience beauty, U should witness Ugly

[@BRITISHFURY_1664]

@@ksainathkashyap6657 indeed

[@ShadowFri3nd]

4:05 for context, this is not slow motion, this is in real time how Catatumbo sky looks, so many lightning's that it seems like a big slow motion lightning.

[@Vanorah7]

I was just wondering about that ... wow!! That's magical

[@locoporelcine1]

Thank you for presenting such natural wonder from my homeland, Venezuela. We are humble people, but proud of nature wonders that are part of our country. Greetings all!

[@kurts65]

That seems another really good reason for USA to take over Venezuela again.

[@gp2917]

@@kurts65 I think our country has done enough damage to Venezuela already

[@ogloc4478]

@@gp2917 he’s trolling dumbass

[@Cosmos_6]

I’m from Venezuela 🇻🇪 to

[@GM-pw9vr]

Venezuela economy fucked

[@sherylcrowe3255]

A perspective from the International Space Station would be very welcome....

[@Godisgood137]

They haven’t a clue 😂

[@longsleevethong1457]

There are videos of it from space

[@josuemelena1478]

It doesn’t exist

[@abell3489]

Would be cool if it truly existed outside of TV screens

[@chrisl5711]

Space isn't real

[@lorainedelaney1753]

I just came here from the podcast, 'Stuff You Should Know', the episode 'Catacumba Lightning', issued 13th July 2022. Gave a comprehensive explanation about the warm water of Caribbean keeping the lake water warm. The hot air rises at night and cold air rushes in which creates wind. The friction between this hot and cold air meeting, plus its position against the surrounding mountains creates, if you'll excuse the pun, the perfect storm which occurs here. I'd recommend going to the podcast, it's about 15 minutes long.

[@motioninmind6015]

Me, too. I love Josh and Chuck, the best podcast of all

[@asterlofts1565]

Que bien. Saludos desde Paraguay.

[@StubbyPhillips]

Has anyone found a video that has at least a minute or two of this without super dramatic music or someone telling us how amazing it is?

[@babakawaz8225]

You can just look for it. And leave this one without making juvenile commentary. It's called a DOCUMENTARY it never just say what you want to hear. It's a process.

[@margon9181]

I can't find any either. Odd.

[@babayagaX9000]

Wow, that must be beautiful to witness in person

[@crieff1sand2s]

Another great wee documentary...keep up the good work....👍🌩

[@gargidev9125]

Its simple yet mysterious at the same time

[@mortalclown3812]

Lightning terrifies me. It hit our Mother in the head when it came through a screen. She was unconscious for a while and lucky, we were told, to be alive.

[@itzamia]

In Florida lightning struck a tree in my dads backyard and the bolt traveled throughout the roots in the ground also killing two other trees. If you were standing anywhere in the backyard at the time, you would've been electrocuted. The tree is about 25 feet from the house, as soon as the bright light entered the house the sound immediately after was like a bomb going off. It about blew me out of my recliner.

[@1lovesoni]

@itzamia my grandmother got electrocuted in a similar manner in her teens. She lived on a farm and was trying to bring an animal in a bit late. It had already begun raining, and then lightning struck a few meters away from her. The electricity traveled through the wet ground and shocked the hell out of her. It burned her pretty bad too, they had to call a doctor to the house to verify she was ok afterwards. She claimed her memory and balance was weird for a little while after that. The event was witnessed by her siblings too, so I'm sure it's a true story.

[@itzamia]

@@1lovesoni Wow close call. Glad she was alright.

[@PaolaBarreto]

Wow, Venezuela is so beautiful. I'm so proud of my Country. Our Everlasting Lightning Storm ❤️

[@leonwatkins5072]

Hey question do u guys get the lighting during winter I heard it stopped for 6 weeks then came back dunno how true is was very interested though

[@didicherokee3566]

Oui c'est incroyable et magnifique

[@didicherokee3566]

​@@leonwatkins5072 oui clairement moi aussi le déluge des explosions des réseaux dans les villes et rue ont été incroyable aussi sur les générateur.

[@didicherokee3566]

Nous n'avons pas eu le même spectacle en Ukraine les chose était peut être différente.

[@generationm2059]

Proof that even Venezuela has a natural wonder of the world too.

[@nzs316]

I was expecting to see them spend more time showing lightning strikes rather than beautiful images of the scenery during the day.

[@gooseface2690]

You just can't please some people. Go count the lightning strikes yourself if that'll satisfy you.

[@michellem3050]

I was expecting them to explain the phenomenon.

[@nzs316]

@@michellem3050 I know but a lot of beautiful scenery during the daytime!

[@nzs316]

That’s 5285.7 strikes per day

[@KeepCalmandLoveClassics]

Absolutely Electrifying ⚡⚡⚡⚡

[@Kazuya720]

Nature is always fascinating.

[@Tevnon]

Some have made jokes about Thor, but seriously if someone built a Thor themed resort on the lake complete with a real temple of Thor where you can burn incense or leave offerings in front of a big Thor statue by big windows strategically placed to give the best view of the lightning...there are a lot of Wiccans and Neopagans who would pay good money to go stay somewhere like that. I'm sure a lot of weather geeks would want to go stay there too.

[@sizzla123]

Glorious

[@ajtm23]

Beautiful

[@aussie_gal]

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. But if you have a love/hate relationship with lightning as much as i do - it's also terrifying.

[@elizabethhollowaye7494]

During the early years of the 20th century, Venezuela began to develop its petroleum industry, and the site was Lake Maracaibo. When the American petroleum workers began to arrive, they were taken in by the sights and sounds of the almost daily lightning storms near the mouth of the Catatumbo River. It is caused by the intense heat from Maracaibo and its surroundings in Zulia State, and the cold air from the Andes Mountains, particularly Merida State where it actually snows. When these two air masses meet, it triggers Catatumbo Lightning, and it is most spectacular at nighttime.

[@Black_VoidXx]

This means on average, 4383 lightning strikes hit it each day.

[@cat_pb]

Wow 😮

[@DerKaktusAvant]

Which is also around 3 per minute. Or 1 every 20 seconds!

[@Elendill79]

400.000 por día y 400. 000.000 al año

[@Duality333]

I know someone said it’s because it’s surrounded by mountains and the heat from the water mixed with the cold mountains is what causes it but there’s really no other place like this on earth? With that formation? Like I highly doubt that’s the only reason lightning is so attracted to this one area. I feel like there’s more to it

[@MayheM_646]

No way, according to u what else is played over there to cause that? Oh please don't tell me ur one of those dumbasses who claim that there were toxic gasses and other components like those dumped on the river that are the real reason this happens. Please just tell me u ain't one of those 😂😂😂

[@TaserFish-qn2xy]

There's probably other places. Every lake in the tropics is a good candidate for lighting. Also, every valley in the tropics is also good, especially if it converged to a point. At lake maricaibo the conditions are just perfect. Tropics - check. Huge valley with small "exit" - check. Lake - check. There certainly is other places that are similar, but none are quite as good.

[@Duality333]

@@TaserFish-qn2xy yah now that I’m sober and read what my high self had said it makes sense that is the peak of perfect conditions for a bad ass light show. I love the way you responded btw, that was the perfect way to convey a point without being condescending or dismissive. Intelligence isn’t often seen on KZbin comment threads.

[@gustavoaragon4194]

Yes but also because in this area Venezuela has its largest deposits of oil. Actually the largest deposits of oil in the world are located here. The methane amounts that emanates from these oil reserves contributed to this phenomenon. Actually this phenomenon helps the ozone layer to heal from the pollution around the world.

[@TaserFish-qn2xy]

@@gustavoaragon4194This seems very dubious to me. Please provide a credible source that links local methane emissions with thunderstorms. Yes, Venezuela has large oil reserves. Oil reserves that have contributed to several spills into the ocean, flaring of methane and other gases and the emission of millions of tons of CO2, further intensifying the climate problem. While there certainly good sides to oil - the times to celebrate fossil fuels have long passed. Your claim sounds strange and implausible and I could not corroborate any data in support of it with a quick web search. Please do not spread misinformation. In case there is something to it, please provide a source. Thanks.

[@boeingpameesha9550]

Thank you.

[@user-sm6qu2yh4w]

I like learning about other places thank you

[@oneshotme]

This would be a great place to see if you can turn lighting into electricity energy for the area! I wonder if anyone has ever tried to do that, to store it maybe in batteries or something along those lines Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@bupekabamba6017]

When i read the title of the video I actually thought that's what it's about.

[@misspixie774]

My thoughts exactly! :)

[@skeletor6316]

No existing battery could survive this onslaught. Batteries need to charge up more slowly. And even if we could design a battery that would not be vaporized by the strike, all the lightning in the world would still power only a small fraction of households.

[@ogloc4478]

@@skeletor6316 foreal, and BLAST HEMAN

[@magmoodjacobs1430]

take note Eskom

[@sumigoutham1391]

Anyone after druv rathee shorts😂

[@shizuka8774]

lol me

[@stlong8903]

Anyone here because of the show "Lost in Space?"

[@chrisxavier3147]

Would be such a wicked (and scary) place to visit

[@hebneh]

Considering how scared of thunder one of my dogs is, it’s a good thing she doesn’t live there…or maybe she would’ve gotten over that fear while she was still a puppy, from regular exposure.

[@anncoffey8375]

Thank you for the video. I found several videos on the subject but the USamerican narration was so awful or the background music without narration was so loud and irritating that I switched off after a few seconds and went on a search for one delivered in UK English. I am happy to have found this one!

[@realtalk675]

Phenomenal

[@ryangodard7993]

From what I understood, 1.6M strikes per year and we get a 5 second video of 2 strikes? 🧐

[@charles8764]

The Catatumbo zone is also located in Colombia Norte de Santander department and it's called by local people as Catatumbo's lighthouse

[@AntMejias]

jajajaja otra vez ustedes los Narcogranadinos no se cansan?

[@angelurdaneta2194]

Los relámpagos o el fenómeno como tal se produce en territorio Venezolano específicamente en el municipio Catatumbo del estado Zulia, que se puede vers desde esa parte de Colombia son dos cosas distintas

[@drippyz3882]

Yo vivo Venezuela es muy peligroso 😱😱

[@rashant9277]

Great personification of The Night

[@elkaribbe]

Is there any hotel around the Catatumbo area. How do you get there from another country?

[@AccuCat]

I have a theory... the gateway to Thor's dimension is somewhere around here.

[@Leecriptor]

You know, there's this folk all around the western world, the Gil, maybe you have watched some of them on TV, or encountered one Gil in your life. Venezuela is actually full of them, is the second country with most Gil after España: Architects, doctors, engineers, politicians, etc. Well, when you traced the history of the name back in time. It derived from Aegidius, which is "The bearer of the Aegis", The old Zeus' Shield, which he later passed on to Athena and sometimes Apollo asked for. It is said that later on Alexander the Great used it to make his army win. And that the emperor Hadrianus wore it on his clothes. From what The Illiad says about Aegis: ""When the Olympian shakes the aegis, Mount Ida is wrapped in clouds, the thunder rolls, and men are struck down with fear." Who knows if after Columbus and the Hispania sides of Rome came up to America, maybe some parts of the Aegis were brought secretly to help them navigate the Atlantic ocean. And after they discovered such amount of resources and natural treasures, they decided to hide it deep down between that lake and the river to avoid pirates stealing it. Giving origin to the Relámpago del Catatumbo after doing so. Thanks for reading, if you liked it, give it a "thumb up", don't forget to click the bell, and subscribe. I wish you all happy holidays, and good fortune

[@nurhafizahabdulaziz4579]

Maybe he mistook jotunheim for midgard?

[@Trigotrymancy]

@@nurhafizahabdulaziz4579perhaps they are one in the same? Odin vowed to abolish ice giants, and i don’t know about you, but i don’t see any ice giants.

[@helenamcginty4920]

But why? Did i miss something?

[@cat_pb]

There is no explanation yet!~

[@jo-vf8jx]

It comes down to its geography

[@paperclip9558]

@@cat_pb then it should be mentioned in the video that the answer is still unknown, rather than leaving the viewer with empty flowery words.

[@Leecriptor]

Who knows if after Columbus and the Hispania sides of Rome came up to America, maybe some parts of the Aegis were brought secretly to help them navigate the Atlantic ocean. And after they discovered such amount of resources and natural treasures, they decided to hide it deep down between that lake and the river to avoid pirates stealing it. Giving origin to the Relámpago del Catatumbo after doing so. Thanks for reading, if you liked it, give it a "thumb up", don't forget to click the bell, and subscribe. I wish you all happy holidays, and good fortune yougotthis

[@WonderfullyMade_Lex]

It is thought to be produced because the warm waters of the Caribbean and the cold waters from the mountains converge there. It is also, the largest producer of ozone. I love watching lighting shows so I found this phenomenon muy interesting some years ago.

[@johnsharkey2948]

😊❤Yes /i know of this.. the lightning every summer is a wild light show only few see..but a light crown..

[@Brevian254]

just watched a movie and had to come here to confirm what a phenomenon

[@123456RaulMorales]

Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, The Everlasting Thunder And Lightning Capital Of The World!

[@_g3508]

This should be the capital of the world 🌍

[@user-xv8ts4cg3j]

Would have been better if we heard the thunder instead of music

[@ankitanand8919]

Here after Dhruv Rathee😂

[@hritik18verma]

Hmm indian hai hi aise kahi bhi paunch jaate hai 😂

[@paperclip9558]

So.... What's the scientific explanation behind it? They only stated about numbers, which useless as hell, but not the 'why/how' this incredible phenomenon only happened in this particular spot? Like what the hell nasa/bbc?

[@ImperfectEnthusiast]

"Warm air from the Caribbean meets the cold air from the mountains, creating the perfect conditions for lightning." from google but I agree

[@paperclip9558]

@@ImperfectEnthusiast Thank you! See how silly that is for us that we have to seek the answer by ourselves? Instead of providing that, they just give useless info about it being acknowledged by guinness world record, like who the hell cares??

[@lorainedelaney1753]

Just listened to a comprehensive explanation of it in a podcast, 'Stuff You Should Know', called Catacumbo Lightning. Great explanation, then I came here for the visuals.

[@rafatenangel]

Thats uknown. Thats why the phenomenom is so spectacular.

[@Dandelion--]

Fascinating. But what is the reason?!

[@gooseface2690]

It's the burial site of Nikola Tesla

[@ShakilShahadat]

@@gooseface2690 good one.

[@moonzestate]

Scientists still don't know exactly what is the reason behind this.

[@nurbanubegum1565]

From druv rathe shorts. 🎉

[@y.a100]

imagine having epilepsy and living there

[@2HighNoon]

By the way it’s described in this documentary it seems the lightning is a nighttime phenomenon?

[@Tarrabyte]

But I'm wondering, being where they are, what are the chances they get struck? Are the houses completely grounded? Do they constantly wear rubber?

[@thegreatandpowerfulmerlin5476]

What if they built lighting rods there to absorb power from the lightning? Free power

[@CK-ki4rq]

Typo in the title, not times, should be bolts

[@jeromerosal1663]

I wonder how loud and noisy it gets over there, I would presume that sleeping would be hard on certain nights.

[@robertoserenguetti1090]

There are only lights , totally silent.beautiful.

[@martf1061]

@@robertoserenguetti1090 lightning bolts are never silent.

[@robertoserenguetti1090]

I was there a couple of times and the first time was incredible lightning every minute and completely silent. The second time was noisy maybe because it was raining, i don't know... .

[@josealbarran7202]

@@martf1061 it's true. You don't hear them all the time. Most of the time it's just the lighting, but no sound at all.

[@focusandtrade9178]

Looks like nature's own Tesla coil ..

[@collinsoconnor5843]

Esther noche.

[@davethursfield9283]

I was expecting some insightful comments.

[@wizdumb420]

underground weather fronts?

[@DVSNME]

So what's stopping us from Benjamin Franklining some sort of set-up where we let all that lightning strike stuff and pull all that electricity into some giant battery or something? Wouldn't that be considered green energy? And it's already in electrical form

[@undertheweather1070]

Lightning comes with so much power all at once that we don’t have the batteries capable of surviving this.

[@johnsherfey3675]

I wonder if trees from around there would be more lightening resistant.

[@misohoney1660]

I wonder if we could harness this power.

[@dustinbrandel59]

Thats where we could catch lightning.

[@user-js3on5wu3w]

This is a wierd and frightening place. Dont people get struck by lightening to make the place unsafe?

[@manifestgtr]

I would sleep like a *baby* in this place…assuming you can keep the mosquitoes out 🧐

[@FTFSupremacyROBLOX]

The everstorm

[@moulayhfid-hd6zc]

i came from minute earth channel video talkig about the capital of lightning

[@AbradolfLincler]

1:25 this guy.. just from seeing his face and how he talks he has so much to tell and the fact that he dyes his hair at 105 xD you go my man, still got a better hairline than me at 25 lmao actually the top looks.. mysteriously darker... anyway the lightning is cool :D

[@otakumonkey]

Wondering who counted that😅

[@thatssomething1]

No need for a night light around those parts pardner😮😆

[@axe4770]

So all these years after Kratos defeated Zeus, Zeus refuged and prosper in Venezuela after all.

[@beestek.94]

Is this where the Raijin Island in One Piece based off?

[@piethrower6475]

I was thinking the same thing it probably is

[@nhetyson]

so, if Articuno is on Mt Everest, Moltres is on the Vesuvius volcano, that means Zapdos should be here!

[@guaicaipurolattanzi1941]

HAHAHAHAHAH pretty apropiated dude

[@robbiepiasecki5538]

Buying flight now ✈️

[@Fly420]

Why is this lightning not viewed as a resource? It is common sense that a conductor in the water near a lightning strike will pick up some electric. From here it is an engineering problem. BTW, please don't set Lake Maracaibo on fire, with all the oil that is now floating, it is kinda like the Cuyahoga River.

[@simongarcia200]

I love BBC

[@hilariontorres5552]

Ayooo pausee

[@Beardedmane901]

Rip drew brees

[@AlmostGod007]

Flash’s house

[@aaronmayhew2.0]

I wonder if it's possible to harness that energy to use for ourselves. Instead of destroying the planet. Home come it hasn't been done already?

[@dsscam]

War of the World Tripods

[@MohanKumarmohanthemass]

Wont the locals get injured?😮

[@ikshaaa_11]

Who come here after watching dhruv rathee reel 😁

[@vijay-808k]

a good shooting spot to shoot horror movies 🎬

[@learnforlivingbysawkatsoha3046]

why not capture those and use as energy?

[@hilariontorres5552]

This is my native country lol

[@zayuhpadilla3526]

I wonder if there are any major sightings of UAPs or UFOS here. I would Love to hear some of their story’s!

[@thebassassin5507]

I like how that’s literally unlimited energy but no one’s using it…

[@Cosmos_6]

I’m feo venesuala

[@Jack-xb5ew]

Why cant someone buy the lake and then build the world's biggest lightning rod and storage facility???

[@jadmohsen8880]

why the hell would you want that? "Buy the lake" what an insane thing to say lol. Let's leave some of our natural world in tact for gods sake

[@hilariontorres5552]

Thqt is the goverment property,also people have properties inside the lake

[@apnabharat2880]

Hare Krishna

[@chefntoast]

Free electricity

[@ikaraz7362]

Sorry this was caused by my fight with thor

[@kunalmourya856]

Who are here after dhruv rathee’s video

[@margaritabishop6595]

It's wonderful!! I love lightening?!! So another place on my bucket list our planet is full of so many places to experience Jehovah God has given us the colours how many greens are there? the animals the birds yep God is not partial and he's not partial and he loves verity

[@dennisj.isreal8263]

😇 *To M.E.= My Essence; This Is How Our Creator: Exodus 3:13-15, Recharge & Keep Our Protective Magnetic Shield; Working For Our Safety and Keeping The Planet Alive & Powerful* 🤗

[@flynnzilla8796]

Would love to listen to those speaking please; added music just annoying and distracting

[@jigsoracle4202]

Need away to steal and store all the current.

[@makinoutmakinout2056]

They trying to copy one piece

[@jacky13736]

Drew Brees gives zero fucks

[@DieFlabbergast]

"Remote lake"??! "In a remote part of Venezuela"???? WTF? The area around Lake Maracaibo is home to around a quarter of Venezuela's population! The lake is about as remote as London or New York! The city of Maracaibo, Venezuela's second-largest city, on the lake's shore, has a population of over two-and-a-half million, and the population of its metropolitan area is over five million! Moever, the lake is actually a brackish lagoon, and opens into the Atlantic Ocean. If this is "remote" then so is Los Angeles!

[@IsaacConejo]

What a waste of a video. Not a word about why.

[@summertimesadness5030]

there's no explanation yet