World News for Students of English

13-11-2014 15:00

Venezuela’s Catatumbo lightning phenomenon has entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest number of average lightning bolts per square kilometre per year, at 250.

The phenomenon, in the River Cataumbo, is the strongest during the rainy season.

It originates from a mass of storm clouds over 5 km high, which are likely the result of winds from the lake meeting surrounding mountain ranges, and collecting heat and moisture, creating electrical charges.

Venezuelan environmentalist, Erick Quiroga, has been monitoring the lightning for 13 years and proposed the phenomenon be entered into the book last year.

“The thing about the lightning is that it isn’t based on reason for me but rather a deep love that I have for the region. For that region because it was there, in between Lake Maracaibo palm trees, where I lived out my childhood and it was something very beautiful.

The idea behind the World Record certification is to bring tourism back to the people of the communities. The idea that I also propose with this record is to get the government’s attention.”

Difficult words: phenomenon (something which happens in nature), moisture (wetness), originate (come from), charge (attract or send away), environmentalist (a person who protects the environment – the surrounding in which we live).

Source: www.ondemandnews.com