Lightning occurs about 2 BILLION TIMES A YEAR around the world.
Lightning is the most common weather threat to life experienced by people worldwide - more common than tornadoes, monsoons, blizzards, or other hazards. Often they are exposed on a daily basis but may have no knowledge of how they can prevent injury.
It is not called down by witches nor a punishment for sins or curse on those who have committed evil. It is a natural phenomenon that can be scientifically explained, predicted by weather forecasts, and mapped from satellites and using other lightning detection technology.
Using satellites and several other technologies, it is possible to detect lightning and map where it occurs over time.
This lightning detection map shows lightning stroke density across the world. The two highest areas (lightest blue) are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, close to Uganda, and near Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela, South America. Both of these are on the equator. Lightning is MUCH more common in the tropics across Africa and parts of Asia and South America than in temperate climates like Europe, the United States, and much of Asia.
In this map of lightning across Africa, the scale is divided further so that the HIGHEST lightning density in Africa occurs where there is pale blue - in the DRC. It is also very common across Lake Victoria, just to the east of the DRC (see paper describing scientific and meteorological reasons why Lake Victoria, like other large lakes around the world (Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela, Lake Titicaca in Peru), has so much lightning).
ACLENet started its work in Uganda where lightning occurs nearly 2 MILLION times every year.
Although most lightning remains in the clouds, 20-40% strikes the ground, sometimes harming people, animals or property.
It is impossible to predict where any one lightning stroke will hit, but we know statistically that lightning is more likely to hit tall, isolated and pointy objects - trees, towers, etc. Science also shows that NOTHING attracts lightning - not metal, nor cell phones, nor the content of the soil, and certainly not people, whether they are 'sinners' or not as believed in many African communities.
For QUICK FACTS about lightning, see the
'So You Think You Know Lightning'
booklet - also available for download in several languages in our Publications section.
For more about the Science of Lightning, how it injures and kills people, and LOTS more, click these links:
