The Northern Lights, also called Aurora Borealis, is a magical pure phenomenon in shades of inexperienced, blue and typically pink, that solely happens within the northern hemisphere.
What causes the Northern Lights?
Many research have been dedicated to it, however merely put, what you see is the response of electricity-charged particles from the solar despatched to earth by the photo voltaic wind, which collide with components of the outer environment, with oxygen and nitrogen. The quantity of charged particles shot into area together with the pace of the photo voltaic wind decide how probably it’s to see this pure phenomenon and in what power.
Collisions with oxygen at greater than about 300 kilometers altitude produces stunning pink auras, nitrogen at decrease altitudes makes you see blue gentle, and when particles collide with this gasoline at even increased altitudes, good purple and violet hues are created. When these colours are combined within the air, there may be additionally an opportunity of seeing the colours pink and white.
A fairytale expertise
To expertise this colourful spectacle in particular person was at all times excessive on my want listing. In April 2023, my dream lastly got here true. I used to be fortunate sufficient to admire the intense dancing lights of the aurora twice(!) throughout my adventures in Swedish Lapland. Above the frozen Lule River in Luleå, I loved swarming inexperienced streaks that lastly broke up like a falling curtain within the evening sky. A fairy-tale expertise that can stick with me ceaselessly!
Can’t wait to expertise this extraordinary gentle present for your self? Then you definitely’re in luck! We now have entered a brand new photo voltaic cycle that researchers predict will turn into probably the most highly effective ever with spectacular auroras that we are able to take pleasure in till about 2027. This implies probabilities of seeing this distinctive phenomenon are excessive within the coming years, so ebook your journey shortly and begin wanting ahead to this unforgettable expertise! To get you began, we’ve listed the eight finest locations on the earth to look at Aurora Borealis:
Alaska
Rugged Alaska is sparsely populated and due to this fact has little gentle air pollution, making the far north, the Arctic, an ideal location to witness the Aurora Borealis. Fairbanks, situated about 240 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle and the pristine Denali Nationwide Park supply one of the best probability of seeing the Northern Lights when the sky is obvious.
Different actions: go to the cities of Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, calm down in scorching springs, go cross-country snowboarding and discover the panorama of the fjords.
Greatest journey time: from mid-August to the tip of April.
Yukon
The aurora borealis is usually noticed in a lot of northern Canada, however one of the best spots for it may be discovered within the very distant Northwest Territories. Considered one of my colleagues was touring in Yukon final March and he was fortunate sufficient to witness the sky lit up in each coloration conceivable. Reportedly it was probably the most spectacular aurora in years.
Different actions: go to capital metropolis Whitehorse, traverse mysterious gold mining cities, hike in Kluane Nationwide Park and Miles Canyon nature protect, go to Takhini Sizzling Springs and marvel on the hanging Signal Submit Forest with street indicators from all over the world.
Greatest journey time: from late August to mid-April.
Finnish Lapland
Because of minimal gentle air pollution, the northern lights are seen as many as 200 nights a 12 months in Finnish Lapland, the realm bordering Sweden, Norway and Russia. You’ll be able to witness it out of your luxurious tent at Aurora Glamping or in a glass Aurora Cabin at Northern Lights Village Saariselka or Lev.
Different actions: go to Santa Claus in Rovaniemie along with your youngsters or take a husky safari or snowmobile trip.
Greatest journey time: from early September to late March.
Journey from Reykjavik by means of Iceland’s numerous landscapes. Good locations to admire the northern lights are the Snæfelsness Peninsula, Thingvellir Nationwide Park, the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and the black sand seashore of Reynisfjara.
Different actions: go snowkiting and ice fishing, hike by means of the lava-covered Landmannalaugar valley on the sting of the Hekla volcano and drive the panoramic route the ‘Golden Circle’.
Greatest journey time: from early September to late April.
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Greenland
Greenland is essentially throughout the Arctic Circle, therefore it’s a prime location to witness Aurora Borealis. The perfect place for that is within the small city of Kangerlussuaq.
Different actions: meet the Inuit and go to the Russel Glacier in Kangerlussuaq.
Greatest journey time: from September to early April.
Swedish Lapland
I noticed the northern lights in Luleå, the place the place the Luler River meets the Bothnia Sea. Different well-known locations to identify this gentle spectacle embrace Kiruna and Abisko Nationwide Park the place the Aurora Sky Station is stationed. Jokkmokk, Jukkasjärvi and Porjus are additionally nice locations to see the northern lights.
Different actions: go ice skating and ice stepping on the frozen Bothnia Sea in Luleå, strive ice fishing and ice bathing, take a tour by snowmobile or husky and meet the Sami.
Greatest journey time: from early December to early April.
Norway
With a location proper below the Northern Lights oval and a steady continental local weather with clear skies, the northern lights are seen most nights in Alta. Tromsø, situated above the Arctic Circle within the middle of the aurora zone and the distant Svalbard archipelago off the coast of Norway are additionally nice locations to see the northern lights. Ideally out of your mattress in an “aurora dome” or throughout an evening in an igloo resort.
Different actions: spot polar bears, arctic foxes and reindeer within the Svalbard archipelago, conquer the snow by fatbike, meet the Sami, go ice fishing and be part of the distinctive twelve-day ‘Huritgruten’ cruise alongside the attribute Norwegian fjord coast.
Greatest journey time: from mid-August to the tip of April.
There are 9 Darkish Sky Discovery Websites on Skye, making it among the finest locations in Scotland for stargazing and seeing the Northern Lights. Additional north, you can even see the northern lights in Shetland, Orkney and Caithness.
Different actions: go to the magical stone circle of Stone of Stennes and the traditional settlement of Skara Brae within the Orkney Islands, monumental rock formations and distinctive cultural heritage within the Shetland Islands.
Greatest journey time: from early October to late March.
Jozef Verbruggen is Director and Proprietor of Untamed Travelling. Untamed Travelling is a journey designer that makes a speciality of high-end bespoke journey experiences across the globe.
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