Venezuela's Everlasting Storm

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The Catatumbo Lightning is an atmospheric phenomenon in Venezuela. It occurs strictly in an area located over the mouth of the Catatumbo River where it empties into Lake Maracaibo.

The phenomenon is a cloud-to-cloud lightning that forms a voltage arc more than 5 km (3.1 miles high during 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours a night, and as many as 280 times an hour. Via: The Presurfer

Heavy rain causes wall collapse

Heavy rain causes wall collapse in Venezuela. LINK, Via: Youtube

Underwater Church Reappears

“You might call it an act of God. A severe drought in Venezuela has exposed a church — pictured in 2008 and on February 21, 2010 — that had been inundated when a hydroelectric dam was built in 1985. The 82-foot-tall church and the Andean town of Potosi were flooded to establish the Uribante-Caparo water reservoir to power the plant, which is currently operating at just 7 percent of its capacity, according to the Reuters service. The church is now an ominous symbol of energy shortages in the country.” w/ photos. || LINK

Lightning strikes over Venezuelan town half the year

A tiny and desperately poor fishing village has one fascinating draw for tourists - lightning storms light up the sky more than 160 nights each year.

Dubbed the Catatumbo Lightning, the weather phenomenon has no known cause. Scientists theorize that it could be caused by wind blowing off the Andes mountains or high levels of methane gas in the area.

A meteorologist with the Venezuelan National Air Force said the frequency of the storms isn't the only oddity. "The Catatumbo Lightning is over 90 percent cloud-to-cloud lightning," said meteorologist Ramon Velasquez. He said the storms can last all night.

"Elsewhere in the world, the duration of the storms is not more than one or two hours, however in Catatumbo, the storm begins at approximately 7 or 8 in the evening and goes on until 4 or 5 in the morning of the next day," said Velasquez.

There is a bit of tourism, but locals in the town of Congo Mirador said they hope the weather can help bring needed money. Nereida Noguera, head of Tourism for Congo Mirador, said the government hasn't done enough to entice tourists.

He said tourism money could help the residents escape dire poverty. "The lightning can be our treasure, that can lift us," said Noguera. LINK, Via: Youtube

Awesome Aerial Tramways of the World

There aren’t many who are ambivalent about aerial tramways - people usually either love them or hate them. Perhaps hate is too mild a word here, we could substitute loathe, despise or fear with ease and that wouldn’t be description enough for many.

This selection, taken from all over the planet, covers a number of world beaters in their own way and includes plenty of pictures to help you imagine the heights that they ascend - and descend. Pictured is the highest tramway in the world, the Cableway of Merida in Venezuela. It travels to 4765 meters altitude!

Link - Via: webphemera, Via: Neatorama

(image credit: Flickr user Federico Jimenez)

Seven Sexy Neon Illustrations by Surround: Venezuela

These illustrations by Venezuelan artist Surround are too cool. I love the way he uses bright neon colors and sexy lines on his racy images. He integrates old school video games and playing cards with hot chicks. LINK