15 photos that prove that lightning is a magnificent, but very scary thing (17 photos)

Lightning is both a fascinating and frightening natural phenomenon. It lights up the sky with fantastic flashes, creating a good show, but its power can leave behind some eerie traces. Did you know that lightning can be hotter than the surface of the Sun? When it strikes, the air around it heats up to 30,000 °C, which is five times hotter than the surface of the Sun. That's it! You can't mess around with lightning, no matter how beautifully it glows.





This is what a tree looks like after being struck by lightning



One of the most mysterious weather phenomena on Earth: this type of lightning is called sprite





These are rare electrical discharges in the upper atmosphere, occurring above thunderclouds at an altitude of 50–90 km. They are red or blue-violet flashes, often taking bizarre shapes. Unlike regular lightning, sprites last for a split second and are difficult to see with the naked eye.

Lightning seen from an airplane



Lightning looks like a tree



Disguised as its most common victim.

Photo of the exact moment lightning struck a pond



A tree struck by lightning is burning from the inside



This oak tree was struck by lightning and split into three parts



Catatumbo Lightning



Catatumbo Lightning is a rare atmospheric phenomenon observed at the mouth of the Catatumbo River in Venezuela. Almost 260 nights a year, intense thunderstorms occur here, accompanied by thousands of lightning strikes, making this place one of the most electrically active zones on the planet. These lightning strikes are unique in that they have even been used for navigation, as they light up the sky for tens of kilometers.

Aftermath of a Lightning Strike on a Golf Course



The Moment Lightning Strikes a Tree



What the Grand Canyon Looks Like When Only a Lightning Strike Is Illuminated



Strike lightning during sunset off the coast of Florida



Lightning cuts this tree



Another version of what can happen to a tree that is struck by lightning



Famous photo thunderstorms during the eruption of the volcano Calbuco in Chile



The photo was taken in 2015 by photographer Francisco Nigroni.

Bonus: the first photo in history to capture lightning, 1882