What Are The Northern Lights?
Northern lights, also known as Auroras or polar lights are an occurence of natural light display, when gaseous particles in the Earth’s atmosphere make a collision with charged particles released from the Sun’s atmosphere. In simpler terms – Sun’s released electrons get together with gases from our mother Earth and make beautiful natural fireworks. It unveils colourful, dynamic patterns of light that appear as curtains, rays, spirals or flickers and they cover the entire sky.
Northern lights come in different colours. You can see them in red, blue, green, yellow and even ultraviolet. Variations in colours are due to different parts of the particles that clash together. And did you know that it also makes a sound? That’s right, you can literally hear the sound of Northern lights being born. It is very similar to a crackling noise, and even though it is possible, hearing it from Earth is extremely difficult, due to all the noise around us.
There are many different yet equally beautiful folktales regarding these lights. For example, the Vikings believed that Auroras were the reflections of shields and armour of the female warriors of Norse mythology – the Valkyries. The Chinese, on the other hand, associated the lights with dragons, saying how it was the fire they breathed through the sky. And in Finland, people believed that Northern lights were the sparks left by arctic foxes that were running across the night sky. Actually, Finnish word for Northern lights is revontulet, which means “fox fire”.
When Can You See It?
Since Northern lights are a completely natural phenomenon and humans have no part in it whatsoever, it is quite tough determining the exact time of its appearance. However, scientists who monitor the activities of solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere are capable of setting at least an approximate time for when you can actually see it.
- December to March
These are the most popular months to seek out this visual experience. They bring long dark nights which makes it easier to see the lights. It is a perfect balance because of the seasonal changes – the layer of winter’s snow covering the ground reflects the glow of Auroras, but at the same time, the season of heavy snowing is coming to an end, and the lack of snow clouds in the sky makes it less complicated to enjoy the view.
- September and October
Northern lights are also very visible during these two months and it makes for a spectacular sight, since the lakes are still ice-free, so it seems like the lights are up against a mirror. If you find the perfect spot, the view of the merging between the lights in the sky and its reflection on the water is simply heart-clenching.
Naturally, the best time of the day for the lights to be seen is nighttime. The sky has to be clear and dark, however, contrary to popular belief it does not have to be pitch-black. Actually, the best background for Northern lights to reach its peak is dark blue, greyish. The most optimal time to see an Aurora with the naked eye is between 9:30 pm and 1 am. Keep in mind that nature is still quite unpredictable and there have been cases of very light nights even if it seems that you chose the perfect month and hour. The key is patience and thorough research!
Where Can You See It?
There are a handful of places where you can see Northern lights, but here are the top destinations that you should definitely consider visiting.
- Tromso, Norway
Geographically, the city of Tromso, set in Northern Norway, is a very convenient location as it falls in the zone of one of the clearest visibilities of the lights, especially in autumn. There are many parts of the city that allow you to enjoy Auroras in peace and quiet, most of them quite remote and further away from the noise. Tromso is easily accessible and offers great accommodations if you wish to stay for a longer period of time.
- Swedish Lapland
Swedish Lapland in Northernmost Sweden, is a home to Abisko National Park, a place considered to be one of the best places to see Northern lights. With clean air and clear skies, this park offers great conditions to enjoy a completely quiet night of the light show. It even has an Aurora Sky Station, built specifically for this occurrence. With almost no distractions of sounds and lights you can simply relax and gaze up at the skies. Here, the Northern lights are visible throughout all the months we have listed before.
- Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik is filled with campsites in the areas with lower air pollution, for people to sleep under the night-sky, which increases the chances of seeing Auroras. There are also many comfortable parks and higher points for better view. The Oskjuhlid forest in the center of Reykjavik is also a convenient place as it is extremely dark. You can hope to catch Northern lights in the capital city of Iceland from September to March.
- Yukon, Canada
The smallest of Canada’s territories, Yukon is little, remote and wild. Sounds quite perfectly conditioned to see Northern lights, right? Definitely! To see the lights, you can take a picturesque route towards Fish Lake or Chadburn Lake Road. The area is very dark and distant, so hopefully you will have more of a chance of catching the beautiful lights across the sky. The best time to travel to Yukon is winter to early spring.
What To Expect?
With Northern lights tours, expect the unexpected. Their appearance is quite unpredictable, so make sure that it is not your main focus of the trip. Be ready to experience nature’s twisted ways and to not get to see them after all. That is why you should travel for the destination, not the lights. So choose a place you would like to visit with or without Auroras. However, if, hopefully, the stars align and you do get to see Northern lights, the view will be truly beautiful. Definitely expect to be mesmerized, to feel like you are dreaming. The sight will pull you in for some time, and since you will probably be going at nighttime, be prepared with blankets or extra jackets, so that the coldness does not ruin your experience. Stay warm!
There is no way that seeing Northern lights is still not on your must-see list. Or if it is not, make sure to put it there right now! We guarantee that it will be one of the most beautiful things you will see in your life. So take your time, do some research and preparations, and happy Northern lights hunting!
