Dirty Thunderstorm
(Photo : Marc Szeglat, www.volcanoes.de)
The shock wave was so strong that it shakes the camera and tripod of the photographers.

Imagine yourself running away from the lava and random flying hot stone while also avoiding lightning strikes from a volcanic eruption. And no, you are not Percy Jackson, so you cannot use your demigod power to make survival easier. Why? Because this is a natural phenomenon called "dirty thunderstorms" -- since Mother Nature is so angry that she combined both volcanic eruptions and lightning to scare the hell out of you.

Below are the list of bizarre natural phenomena that would make you think you are a character from C.S. Lewis's unreleased books.

1. The Gates of Hell

Somewhere in the expansive Karakum desert in Turkmenistan, a group of drillers accidentally uncovered a massive underground gas reserve, causing toxic fumes to leak. To prevent environmental disasters from happening, they set it on fire, hoping it will die out in a few weeks.

Yet more than four decades had passed, the 230-foot wide pit is still burning that locals began calling it the Gates of Hell.

But don't worry. Satan will not emerge from there anytime. In fact, it is converted to a tourist site for the people who enjoy bizarre adventures. "Look! I conquered the Gate of Hell!" is probably how it  was captioned on Instagram.

2. Volcanic Lightning

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," an old saying says. True enough, Mother Nature will not forgive anyone with this super rare phenomenon.

In 2015, Marc Szeglat, a volcano film-maker, successfully took a picture of this thunderstorm on one of the most active volcanoes in Japan. Although it is fascinating in the picture, taking it is no joke. He said that sometimes the shockwave of the lightning was so strong that it shakes their camera and tripod. But the effort was paid off as they were able to produce a picture that captures both the beauty and eeriness of the scene.

3. Ghost Rainbow


Rainbow is often associated with hope since it often flash its beautiful colors after a rain. But what what does an eerie white rainbow means? Well, there is none. According to experts, this colorless rainbow works pretty much the same as the standard one except for one thing: it is made by fog, rather than rain droplets. And that's why it is fitting that the most accepted term for it is fogbow.

4. Underwater river

If you watched Spongebob Squarepants, you probably know that Bikini Bottom has a beach. While it is not the same, it is possible to have an underwater river.

According to the experts, these rivers are formed when freshwater and saltwater meet, resulting in an effect called "halocline", which gives the milky white appearance of these rivers.

5. Eerie waving cloud

Asperitas cloud formation is so rare that it took almost nine years before it was recognized and was given an official name. Described as a low-lying rough clouds that look like a "roughened sea surface from below", you will probably jeez on your pants while praying to God to spare your from His judgement.

6. Russian Light Pillars

A light emitting from the ground is something you probably have read on a fantasy novel that involves celestial beings. But it occurs regularly in Russia during winter. Experts said that it happens when the crystal ice reflects the ray of sun and moon, resulting in a varied colored column of light pillars.

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