The Lightning Capital of the World
take shelter: to go to a safe place to protect yourself from bad weather or danger
Every night near Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela, lightning fills the sky in a stunning display. This place has more storms than anywhere else on Earth. There are more than 1.2 million lightning strikes a year. Warm air from the lake and cold air from the Andes mountains create the perfect conditions for this natural wonder.
Photographers and storm chasers visit to witness the beauty of these storms. Jonas, a young photographer, says it’s important to respect the power of lightning. Sometimes, he gets close to the storms, but when they approach too quickly, he knows it’s time to take shelter.
People call this place “the lightning capital of the world.” With 250 lightning strikes per square kilometer each year, these storms are both beautiful and dangerous.
Sample sentences
When the rain started to pour heavily, we ran to take shelter under a nearby tree.
During the tornado warning, everyone in the town had to take shelter in their basements.
Hikers were advised to take shelter in a cave when the storm rolled in.