Lightning strikes
Electrical storms create awesome, beautiful displays of nature around the world. Lightning is known to occur on average 44 times a second over the entire earth, totaling nearly 1.4 billion flashes a year. Defined as a powerful sudden flow of electricity accompanied by thunder during an electrical storm it makes for stunningly dramatic scenes.
In this photo, stunning lightning flashes occur over the Las Vegas Strip as a thunderstorm dumps rain and hail Oct. 19, 2010.
Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela
Lightning strikes over Lake Maracaibo in the village of Ologa, where the Catatumbo River feeds into the lake in the western state of Zulia in Venezuela Oct. 23, 2014.
Catatumbo lightning was included in the 2015 Guinness World Records, dethroning the Congolese town of Kifuka, as the place with the world's most lightning bolts per square kilometer each year at 250. Catatumbo lightning flashes several times per minute, 140 to 160 nights per year, accounting for about 25% of the world's production of upper-atmospheric ozone.
Eyjafjallajokul, Iceland
Lightning streaks across the sky as lava flows from a volcano in Eyjafjallajokul in Iceland, April 17, 2010.
Volcanic lightning strikes, combining flashes with ash from an erupting volcano brings two powerful forces of raw nature together with mesmerizing results.
Srebrenica
Lightning is seen during a storm under the Memorial Center in Potocari, a memorial site for the Srebrenica massacre the night before a mass burial, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, July 10, 2012.
One World Trade Center, NY
Lightning strikes One World Trade Center as the sun sets behind the city after a summer storm in New York July 2, 2014.
France
A sunflower field is seen in stormy weather near Donzere, southern France, August 5, 2011.
Johannesburg
Lightning strikes over Johannesburg on October 26, 2013.
Johannesburg claims to be the lightning capital of the world, though this title is also claimed by others.
More than 260 people are killed by lightning strikes in South Africa each year.
Port au Prince, Haiti
Lightning strikes over the sea along the coast of the Haitian capital, Port au Prince, during an evening thunderstorm, Sept. 24, 2014.
Belgrade
Lightning strikes over buildings during a thunderstorm in Belgrade, June 8, 2011.
Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano chain, Chile
Lightning flashes around the ash plume above the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano chain near Entrelagos in Chile, June 5, 2011.
The volcano in the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle chain, dormant for decades, erupted in south-central Chile on Saturday, belching ash over 6 miles (10 km) into the sky.
London
Lightning flashes in the night sky over South London in London, Aug. 7, 2008.
California
Lightning strikes as cars streak past on state route 247 Aug. 5, 2005 south of Barstow, California.
Germany
Flashes of lightning illuminate the sky next to a windmill over the lake Scharmuetzel near Bad Saarow, eastern Germany July 16, 2010.
China
Lightning strikes above buildings in central Shanghai, China, Aug. 15, 2012.
Switzerland
Lightning illuminates the sky during a thunderstorm over the Swiss Federal Palace in Bern, Switzerland, July 17, 2009.
Lake Powell, Arizona
Lightning strikes as a much-needed rain storm comes to Lake Powell, marked by a 100-foot thick "bathtub ring" of bleached sandstone near Page, Arizona, March 24, 2007.
The ring is the result of a six-year drought that dramatically dropped the level of the reservoir.
Shinmoedake peak, Japan
Volcanic lightning or a dirty thunderstorm is seen above Shinmoedake peak as it erupts, between Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures, in this photo taken from Kirishima city. January 28, 2011.
Las Vegas
Lightning flashes over hotel-casinos in downtown Las Vegas during a thunderstorm Sept. 13, 2011.
St. Peter's Dome, Rome
Lightning strikes St Peter's dome at the Vatican Feb. 11, 2013.
Greek Parthenon
The ancient Greek Parthenon temple, atop the Acropolis hill overlooking Athens, is framed by a lightning bolt during a thunderstorm that broke out in the Greek capital late Oct. 9, 2006.
Barstow, California
Mass lightning bolts light up night skies by the Daggett airport from monsoon storms passing over the high deserts early Wednesday, north of Barstow, California July 1, 2015.
Las Vegas
A jet aircraft takes off as lightning strikes across the sky during a monsoon storm at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, July 7, 2014.
Beirut, Lebanon
Multiple lightning strikes on the horizon off the shore of Beirut, Oct. 29,2008.
Gulf of Izmir, Turkey
Lightning strikes early Sept. 12, 2009 over the Gulf of Izmir in Turkey.
New York
With the United Nations and Tudor City in the foreground, lightning strikes in the sky over the East River as a major storm approaches New York City, July 2, 2014.
Iowa
Lighting strikes over a barn surrounded by a soybean crop in Donnellson, Iowa, July 13, 2012.
Empire State Building, New York
Lighting strikes over the Empire State Building as a major storm comes to New York City July 2, 2014.
The Empire State Building is struck by lightning on average 23 times each year, and was once struck eight times in 24 minutes.
Corcovado Hill, Rio de Janeiro
Lightning flashes over the Christ the Redeemer statue on top of Corcovado Hill in Rio de Janeiro, Jan. 14, 2014.
Searchlight, Nevada
Lightning strikes near the town of Searchlight, Nevada as the first storm of the season passes through the western deserts of the U.S. in the early hours of June 8, 2006.