The Northern Lights, often known as Aurora Borealis, is a magical pure phenomenon in shades of inexperienced, blue and generally 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 elements of the outer environment, with oxygen and nitrogen. The quantity of charged particles shot into area together with the velocity of the photo voltaic wind decide how possible 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 mild, and when particles collide with this gasoline at even greater altitudes, good purple and violet hues are created. When these colours are blended 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 brilliant 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 ceaselessly!
Can’t wait to expertise this extraordinary mild present for your self? Then you’re in luck! We have entered a brand new photo voltaic cycle that researchers predict will develop into probably the most highly effective ever with spectacular auroras that we are able to take pleasure in till about 2027. This means probabilities of seeing this distinctive phenomenon are excessive within the coming years, so guide your journey shortly and begin trying ahead to this unforgettable expertise! To get you began, we’ve listed the eight greatest 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, positioned about 240 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle and the pristine Denali National Park provide the most effective likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights when the sky is evident.
Other actions: go to the cities of Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, loosen up in scorching springs, go cross-country snowboarding and discover the panorama of the fjords.
Best journey time: from mid-August to the tip of April.
Yukon
The aurora borealis is repeatedly noticed in a lot of northern Canada, however the most effective spots for it may be discovered within the very distant Northwest Territories. 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.
Other actions: go to capital metropolis Whitehorse, traverse mysterious gold mining cities, hike in Kluane National Park and Miles Canyon nature protect, go to Takhini Hot Springs and marvel on the placing Sign Post Forest with highway indicators from world wide.
Best journey time: from late August to mid-April.
Finnish Lapland
Due to 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 can witness it out of your luxurious tent at Aurora Glamping or in a glass Aurora Cabin at Northern Lights Village Saariselka or Lev.
Other actions: go to Santa Claus in Rovaniemie along with your youngsters or take a husky safari or snowmobile journey.
Best journey time: from early September to late March.
Travel from Reykjavik by means of Iceland’s various landscapes. Good locations to admire the northern lights are the Snæfelsness Peninsula, Thingvellir National Park, the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and the black sand seashore of Reynisfjara.
Other 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’.
Best 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 greatest place for that is within the small city of Kangerlussuaq.
Other actions: meet the Inuit and go to the Russel Glacier in Kangerlussuaq.
Best 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. Other well-known locations to identify this mild spectacle embrace Kiruna and Abisko National Park the place the Aurora Sky Station is stationed. Jokkmokk, Jukkasjärvi and Porjus are additionally nice locations to see the northern lights.
Other 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.
Best journey time: from early December to early April.
Norway
With a location proper beneath the Northern Lights oval and a steady continental local weather with clear skies, the northern lights are seen most nights in Alta. Tromsø, positioned 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. Preferably out of your mattress in an “aurora dome” or throughout an evening in an igloo resort.
Other 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.
Best journey time: from mid-August to the tip of April.
There are 9 Dark Sky Discovery Sites on Skye, making it top-of-the-line locations in Scotland for stargazing and seeing the Northern Lights. Further north, it’s also possible to see the northern lights in Shetland, Orkney and Caithness.
Other 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.
Best journey time: from early October to late March.
Jozef Verbruggen is Director and Owner 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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