Photo Post: Lightning over Guanabara
Someone told me today that Brazil is hit by more lightning than any other country on earth. A little sceptical Googling suggests that Central Africa has more electrical storm activity, but let’s put weather fact pedantry to one side and agree that Rio has its fair share of spectacular lightning storms.
This is probably the most famous lightning shot taken in Rio – Cristo Redentor being struck full on the head (the photographer was Custódio Coimbra).
My offering from Saturday night isn’t quite so dramatic, but notice that I’ve got two lightning bolts in my shot, so you know… in a way my photo is twice as good! rs
Makes a change from photos of the sunrise doesn’t it?
The person who told you that was correct. You should watch this video from fantastico:
http://g1.globo.com/fantastico/videos/t/edicoes/v/raios-matam-130-pessoas-e-deixam-200-feridos-por-ano-no-brasil/2411736/
Thanks Nanda – good link! A colleague (visiting from overseas) told me recently that in the middle of a huge thunderstorm, there were plenty of people still swimming in the swimming pool of her hotel. I wonder if there is a problem with public safety awareness?
Is the picture taken by Mr. Custódio Coimbra entitled “Cristo Marley”?
You’ve got me again Gritty – “Marley” because he is smoking?
Yep. Looks like a big one too (but proportionally speaking probably medium sized to him).
I found this online
http://canalazultv.ig.com.br/redeambiente/novidade.asp?id_CON=221
O Brasil é o país mais atingido por raios no mundo: ao todo, aproximadamente 50 milhões de raios atingem território brasileiro todos os anos. Este número se dá não apenas por causa da extensão do nosso território, mas também pelo relevo majoritariamente plano do país e clima quente. A temperatura é diretamente relacionada à frequência de raios: eles raramente são vistos nos pólos e costumam se concentrar em países tropicais. Já a maior ocorrência de raios por km² é o Congo, na África Central, também um país quente.
Ah-ha! OK, that explains it! I found this which says that Congo has the most (=highest density) lightning, but of course that doesn’t mean it has the most (highest number!).
But wait a minute – didn’t I say we should put weather fact pedantry to one side? rs ;)
I like the photo. I’m quite jealous of the view from your window. What camera do you use?
Also, the last couple of nights I’ve been sitting outside watching lightning across the horizon, flashes every couple of seconds, all evening long. So I can believe that stat about the highest number.
Thanks GFE! :) It really is a stunning view – I don’t expect to ever better it. I use an ancient Nikon D70 which I bought second hand about 8 years ago. It has fewer megapixels than most people’s smartphones nowadays, but I’ve grown pretty attached to it (and can’t really afford a new one!). :D
A quick glance at the weather forecast suggests Rio has plenty more lightning coming in the near future – I should never had doubted the original person who told me about Brazil’s lightning stats!