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The Volcan de Fuego is already one of Guatemala's most fascinating landmarks in its own right. One of the most active volcanoes in the world, the aptly-named fiery volcano emits small eruptions on a near-constant basis, allowing daring hikers to approach the mountain and experience a taste of the volcano's wrath without actually putting themselves in an inordinate amount of danger.
But one lucky group of hikers got a little more than they bargained for on a recent hike to Volcan de Fuego. As the hikers approached the famous volcano, a massive lightning bolt struck the peak of the erupting cone, creating a jaw-dropping sight that can only be described as cinematic.
Thanks to @abcnews , we're able to experience a breathtaking glimpse into what those intrepid hikers experienced that day. The shot of that lightning bolt igniting the plume of volcanic ash would put most disaster movies to shame. Seriously, does Zeus have a beef with Volcan de Fuego ?
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According to MuchBetterAdventures.com, Volcan de Fuego famously experiences small eruptions about once every 15-20 minutes , meaning that anyone who hikes close to the volcano is almost guaranteed to witness at least one eruption on any given day. It's not always that the weather doubles that spectacle quite like this, though! Whatever tour company these hikers were with, it's safe to say that they got their money's worth that day!
Why Eruptions and Lightning Bolts Go Together
This was a particularly electrifying combination of the elements. However, if you're fascinated by volcanic eruptions , you've probably seen powerful lightning storms form during eruptions before.
That's no mere coincidence. In fact, this is a specific phenomenon called volcanic lightning. According to Discovery , volcanic lightning usually occurs in the early stages of an eruption, either close to the ground or high up near the stratosphere in the plume of volcanic smoke. Static electricity is the driving force behind lightning storms, and when an ash cloud is released in an eruption, there are lots of tiny ash particles that rub together and generate enough static electricity to generate lightning. Scientists also believe that water vapor in the plume can freeze into ice crystals as it rises in the atmosphere, generating the other type of volcanic lightning that forms further up in the sky.
That's a very general explanation for how volcanic lightning works, of course. There's still a lot that scientists don't fully understand about how volcanic lightning forms and what conditions need to be met, making this phenomenon all the more fascinating. Still, you don't need a specific scientific explanation to understand why the sight of a lightning bolt plunging into the maw of an erupting volcano sends chills down your spine. It's nature at its most thrilling!
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