I wonder if Benjamin Franklin would have flown his kite with a key attached out in a storm back in 1752 if he had witnessed something like this in person. The following video comes from Lac-Nilgaut, Quebec where a lightning strike blew the bark off a pine tree and sent it tumbling onto a cabin below. Luckily they were already filming because it all happened in a split secont:
Thankfully Franklin’s fascination with lightning led to the invention of the lightning rod which have protect buildings and homes ever since. Interesting fact, the largest “Franklin” lightning rod was installed during Ben’s lifetime was on the dome of the State House in Maryland. The original lightning rod has remained intact and continues to serve as it has for more than 225 years. Amazing!
