Lake Maracaibo in northwestern Venezuela averages about 232.5 lightning flashes per square kilometre per year — the highest on Earth — according to 16 years of NASA TRMM Lightning Imaging Sensor data analysed by Albrecht et al. (2016). Nocturnal thunderstorms occur there on roughly 297 nights a year, the phenomenon long known as Catatumbo lightning.
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Lake Maracaibo in northwestern Venezuela averages about 232.5 lightning flashes per square kilometre per year — the highest on Earth — according to 16 years of NASA TRMM Lightning Imaging Sensor data analysed by Albrecht et al. (2016). Nocturnal thunderstorms occur there on roughly 297 nights a year, the phenomenon long known as Catatumbo lightning.
The highest long-term mean lightning flash density at any location, as measured from orbit.
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Permanent ID limitsregistry.com/limits/LR-LIGHTNING-HOTSPOT
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Limits Registry. LR-LIGHTNING-HOTSPOT. Most lightning-prone place on Earth. 2026.