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

5. Kakamega, Kenya

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Western Kenya's Kakamega town is one of Africa's most well-known lightning hotspots internationally. With an average of more than 100 lightning flashes per square kilometre yearly, this area suffers an especially high frequency of lightning strikes. The town's near-equatorial position, together with its proximity to Lake Victoria and the surrounding highlands, generates the ideal storm of circumstances for strong electrical activity. Kakamega's lightning phenomena is not only unusual in frequency but also in intensity and visual spectacular quality. Usually corresponding with the two rainy seasons from March to May and October to December, the peak lightning season causes constant bolts of lightning to highlight the heavens above Kakamega. For hours, these storms create an amazing show that defines the local scene and way of life. The effect of this regular lightning activity on local life and ecosystems makes Kakamega especially intriguing. The only tropical rainforest in Kenya, the rich Kakamega Forest gains from nitrogen fixation brought on by lightning strikes, hence supporting its great diversity. But the regular lightning also presents difficulties for the nearby residents, which calls for the creation of lightning safety precautions and shapes conventional wisdom and behaviour. Kakamega presents a special chance for scholars and storm aficionados to study and see one of the most strong and frequent electrical displays in nature in a tropical environment.