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. It is more than 5 km of height, appears during 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours per day and up to 280 times per hour and it can be seen at the distance of more than 400 km from the place. After appearing continually for centuries, the lightning had not been seen since January 2010, apparently due to a drought, raising fears that it may have been extinguished permanently. In April of 2010, the Catatumbo Lightning reappeared.