5C Edwin Shy The Mysteries of the Catatumbo Lightning Shows at L

Spanish poet Lope de Vega mentioned this unusual landmark in his epic poem "La Dragontea" in 1597: it tells about the the defeat of the hated Francis Drake at Nombre de Dios, Panama.

A mysterious symphony of rapid-fire lightning bolts used to create the greatest light show on Earth over the Catatumbo River in Venezuela -- until suddenly they stopped and no one knew why.

More than 40,000 bolts ripped across the night sky as many as 300 nights a year for nine hours at a time. It occurred so frequently that the phenomenon became known as "Relampago de Catatumbo," or "Catatumbo Lightning."

Perhaps the mystery of why the lightning disappeared might have something to do with whatever reason the phenomenon happened in the first place.