<P> The map on the right shows that lightning is not distributed evenly around the planet . About 70% of lightning occurs on land in the Tropics, where the majority of thunderstorms occur . The north and south poles and the areas over the oceans have the fewest lightning strikes . The place where lightning occurs most often (according to the data from 2004 to 2005) is near the small village of Kifuka in the mountains of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the elevation is around 975 metres (3,200 ft). This region received 158 lightning strikes per 1 square kilometer (409 per sq mi) a year . </P> <P> Above the Catatumbo river, which feeds Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela, Catatumbo lightning flashes several times per minute and has the highest number of lightning per square kilometer in the world . Singapore has one of the highest rates of lightning activity in the world . The city of Teresina in northern Brazil has the third - highest rate of occurrences of lightning strikes in the world . The surrounding region is referred to as the Chapada do Corisco ("Flash Lightning Flatlands"). </P> <P> In the United States, the west coast has the fewest lightning strikes, and Central Florida sees more lightning than any other area . Florida has the largest number of recorded strikes during summer . Much of Florida is a peninsula, bordered by the ocean on three sides with a subtropical climate . The result is the nearly daily development of clouds that produce thunderstorms . For example, in what is called "Lightning Alley", an area from Tampa to Orlando, there are as many as 50 strikes per square mile (about 20 per km) per year . The Empire State Building in New York City is struck by lightning on average 23 times each year, and was once struck 8 times in 24 minutes . </P> <P> Official maps have delays in minutes (Canada, USA) or even hours (Europe), whereas the amateur network Blitzortung has delays usually under ten seconds . </P>

Where does lightning strike the most in the world