The Northern Lights, often known as Aurora Borealis, is a magical pure phenomenon in shades of inexperienced, blue and generally purple, 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 house together with the velocity of the photo voltaic wind decide how doubtless it’s to see this pure phenomenon and in what power.
Collisions with oxygen at greater than about 300 kilometers altitude produces lovely purple auras, nitrogen at decrease altitudes makes you see blue mild, and when particles collide with this gasoline at even increased altitudes, sensible 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 individual was at all times excessive on my want record. 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 night time sky. A fairy-tale expertise that can stick with me without end!
Can’t wait to expertise this extraordinary mild present for your self? You then’re in luck! We now have entered a brand new photo voltaic cycle that researchers predict will grow to be one of the vital 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 e book your journey shortly and begin trying ahead to this unforgettable expertise! To get you began, we’ve listed the eight finest locations on the planet to watch Aurora Borealis:
Alaska
Rugged Alaska is sparsely populated and subsequently has little mild 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 the perfect 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.
Finest journey time: from mid-August to the tip of April.
Yukon
The aurora borealis is recurrently noticed in a lot of northern Canada, however the perfect spots for it may be discovered within the very distant Northwest Territories. One among my colleagues was touring in Yukon final March and he was fortunate sufficient to witness the sky lit up in each shade conceivable. Reportedly it was essentially 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 Scorching Springs and marvel on the putting Signal Put up Forest with highway indicators from around the globe.
Finest journey time: from late August to mid-April.
Finnish Lapland
As a result of minimal mild air pollution, the northern lights are seen as many as 200 nights a 12 months in Finnish Lapland, the world bordering Sweden, Norway and Russia. You may 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 together with your kids or take a husky safari or snowmobile trip.
Finest journey time: from early September to late March.
Journey from Reykjavik by means of Iceland’s various 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’.
Finest journey time: from early September to late April.
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Greenland
Greenland is essentially inside 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.
Finest 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 mild 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, attempt ice fishing and ice bathing, take a tour by snowmobile or husky and meet the Sami.
Finest journey time: from early December to early April.
Norway
With a location proper underneath the Northern Lights oval and a secure continental local weather with clear skies, the northern lights are seen most nights in Alta. Tromsø, situated above the Arctic Circle within the heart 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 lodge.
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 a part of the distinctive twelve-day ‘Huritgruten’ cruise alongside the attribute Norwegian fjord coast.
Finest journey time: from mid-August to the tip of April.
There are 9 Darkish Sky Discovery Websites on Skye, making it top-of-the-line locations in Scotland for stargazing and seeing the Northern Lights. Additional north, it’s also possible to 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.
Finest 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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