16 World-Famous Lightning Landmarks: A Must-Visit Pilgrimage

12. Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

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Situated on the northern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, Tortuguero National Park is well-known for both its great lightning activity and great biodiversity including sea turtle nesting sites. For those who enjoy both nature and storms, this rich tropical paradise sees some of the most frequent and strong electrical storms in Central America. The park's unusual topography—its network of rivers, lagoons, and rainforests meeting the Caribbean Sea—allows perfect circumstances for the year-round development of strong thunderstorms. Tortuguero is unique as a lightning landmark in that its calm natural beauty contrasts sharply with the strong electrical displays illuminating its sky. Usually occurring in the rainy months from May to June and November to December, tourists can see amazing lightning displays practically daily during the peak lightning season. Countless pictures and films have caught the hypnotic display created by lightning bolts lighting the rich rainforest canopy and reflected off the many streams of the park. The system of Tortuguero depends much on the regular lightning activity in the park. The electrical discharges help to fix nitrogen, therefore improving the fertility of the rainforest soil and enabling the amazing diversity of the park. Tortuguero presents a special chance for researchers to investigate lightning behaviour in a tropical rainforest setting, therefore illuminating the link between electrical storms and environmental condition. Tortuguero is a very exciting place for those who like the natural beauty of the park together with its additional attractions, which include turtle nesting observations and wildlife viewing.