Do fish get electrocuted when lightning hits a lake

A.� Whenever an electric storm is brewing fishermen and anyone else on the water is advised to get out quickly. And for very good reasons: water is a good conductor of electricity and if a bolt of lightening struck the water then it could deliver a fatal voltage to anyone nearby.

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However because of the way lightning dissipates throughout a body of water, with the majority travelling across the surface rather than down through the depths, most fish escape death and injury.

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However it's only because most fish swim relatively deep that they survive lightning strikes on water. Any fish unlucky enough to be near the surface at the point of contact would be killed or badly burnt.

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Q.� Why does lightening travel along the surface of water rather than down through it

A.� One of the characteristics of a good electricity conductor is that it keeps the charge near its surface. The charge travels along the surface, making it's way toward land. If you get caught in its path then the charge will pass through you, killing or burning you, depending on how near the point of contact you are.

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Q.� How hot is a bolt of lightning

A.� As hot as 30,000 Celsius, five times hotter than the sun.

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by Lisa Cardy