Catatumbo River in Venezuela – photo, description, how to get there, map
It is not difficult to believe that on our planet there are many paradoxical and unusual phenomena that never cease to amaze everyone with their phenomenality. Among such natural phenomena, there is one more, no less amazing and amazing – this is the Catatumbo River.
A feature of this river and the area that surrounds it is the frequent occurrence of lightning. This happens in the place where the river flows into one of the largest lakes in Venezuela – Maracaibo, at an altitude of more than 5,000 meters. The area of the lake is more than 13,000 square meters and is located between two mountain ranges – the Cordillera de Merida and the Sierra de Perija. When lightning begins to appear, the phenomenon does not carry sound effects – that is, there is no thunder, as it usually happens in rainy weather when several clouds collide.
Location and description
The Catatumbo River is located in Venezuela, it starts from the northeast side of Colombia and flows into Lake Maracaibo, that is, the river is located once in the territories of two states – Colombia and Venezuela. Although it is not considered as the longest and deepest among the other rivers in South America, it can be said with confidence that it is the most fantastic and unusual.
More than 150 days a year and for half a day you can observe an amazing picture – hundreds of thousands of electric charges arise in the sky, which can be counted more than 270 in one hour. At the same time, lightning both appears and disappears completely silently, only accompanied by falling water from a waterfall into a lake.
Amazing Facts
If we talk about how many lightnings occur here in one year, then this figure is approximately 1,180 electric charges with a power of 400,000 amperes each. An amazing fact is that thanks to such power, lightning is visible at a distance of more than 400 kilometers. Many navigators used this phenomenon in order not to get lost and get home, while they called it the Lighthouse of Maracaibo.
The legend tells that the Catatumbian phenomenon once saved the lives of local residents from the pirate Francis Drake from England, who, around the beginning of 1596, wanted to secretly sneak into the city and conquer it. But fortunately, thanks to the maximum illumination by lightning, all the ships that sailed up were noticed and people did not allow a terrible disaster.
Cause of Silent Lightning
The Yupa Indians, who lived in the past centuries of our era, believed that this amazing phenomenon appears when the soul of one of the ancestors collides with a firefly. But in fact, there is a reasonable explanation for this phenomenon, which modern scientists still unraveled. The thing is that when the warm and humid winds coming from the Caribbean meet, along with the cold winds of the Andes, they collide, which turns into a whirlwind. It begins its rotation counterclockwise and forms the occurrence of thunderstorms. In the lake itself, there are oil deposits, and in the swamps – a variety of organic substances that emit a lot of methane. He slowly rises to the clouds with the help of the winds.
Further, a huge amount of air currents are able to evenly distribute methane in the clouds, but something may linger with a higher concentration. In the middle of the clouds, the airspace has many insulating properties that can reduce the activity of electricity, and methane, in turn, can weaken this insulation a little, and then lightning appears.
Notes for tourists
If you are a fan of extreme trips and an observer of the most unusual meteorological phenomena, then you can visit this wonderful place. On the territory near the river there are many houses where you can stay at the time you need. You can travel along the river by boat, of course, it is best to do this when it is already dark outside, it would be nice to take flashlights with you in order to see many caimans or various bird species.
You can visit the lake at night during the rainy season.
How to get there
When you get to Chinita International Airport, which is located 18 km from the city of Maracaibo, you can take any suburban bus or hire a taxi. In general, there will be no problems with public transport.
Maracoibo can also be reached from Caracas, which is also a major hub for Venezuela. Travel time will take about 11 hours; from Merodoi – about 9 hours; from San Cristobal – approximately – 5 hours 30 minutes; from Berquisimeto – 5 hours; from Koro – 4 hours 30 minutes; from Valera – no more than 4 hours. In addition, you can also get to Maracaibo from Colombia, which, by the way, is the most popular and frequently requested route.
The Catatumbo River is simply an amazing phenomenon that will surprise everyone and will not leave indifferent to such natural phenomena as lightning. While watching the flickering light flashes, you will find a lot of pleasure and remember this phenomenal sight for a lifetime!
Recommended reading Canaima National Park in Venezuela.