Latourell, Oregon, USA in the night sky on May 11 Mathieu Lewis-Rolland / Getty Images
The auroras dance,
In the darkness of the blanket
I am sure, you won’t be able to just glance
And Will forever want to dance along.
Most of us have marveled over these kind of images sometime in our lives. But what are these,
and why does this dance of lights take place? These are the beautiful Northern Lights or the
Aurora Borealis which happen due to the interaction of the solar winds with the Earth’s upper
atmosphere. These effects are also observed in the southern hemisphere, which is called Aurora Australis. Due to intense coronal mass ejections from the Sun, the Northern Lights were seen at lower latitudes than usual as well. However, this glowing phenomenon is usually seen near the Arctic Circle. Let us discuss which are the best places and times to observe this phenomenon.
So, let's discuss the basics. The Northern Lights depend on the Solar Cycle as it influences the auroras. During the solar maximum, the sun has more sunspots and solar flares which interact with the Earth’s magnetic field, creating brighter and more frequent auroras. As the cycle approaches solar minimum, the auroras are not as vibrant and frequent. Hence, planning a trip
during the solar maximum leads to higher chances of experiencing this vibrant display. The
Northern Lights most commonly occur within the aurora oval as seen above. It consists of
latitudes between 60- 75, which include Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Finland, etc.
Now let us look at some of the best places to visit.
1. Tromso, Norway
Tromso is the center of the Northern Lights oval, which allows you to see the Auroras even when the activity is low. The best chance of experiencing it is from September to April as the dark and
long winter nights. Although you can see from the town, it's better to get away from any form of night pollution and visit the Lyngen Alps which many locals visit.
2. Lofoten, Norway
Lofoten is an archipelago in Norway. The wild nature of these islands makes it an amazing spot for viewing the Northern Lights. Uttakleiv, Gimsøystranda, or Rambergstranda are some of the beaches that face north. Same as in Tromso, the viewing period is best from September to April, but visiting Lofoten in September is comfortable because temperatures are not very high relative to the winter months that follow. visitlofoten.com
3. Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland, is a major tourist attraction. It is not only known for its amazing Aurora dance but also its geothermal pools and volcanic tours are mesmerizing. Like Tromso, the best viewing period is September to April. It is an easy destination for tourists as it has an airport with direct flights and is good for a quick getaway for the holidays.
@reykjavikexcursion
4. Ilulissat, Greenland
It is the third largest city in northern Greenland and has formed with only 5000 people. It also has the “Icefjord” which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The name of the town means “icebergs” in the Greenlandic language and is an important area. There are no direct flights from North America or elsewhere in Europe at this stage, so the only way to get to Lear is to fly from either Copenhagen or Denmark or you can also arrive by cruise. You can potentially see the
northern lights from August through May, but the best time is from February to April.
5. Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland
‘Revontulet’ – a word in the Finnish language for Northern Lights refers to a mystical firefox that lights the sky on fire with its tail. In Rovaniemi, one does not have to walk away from the city center to view the Northern Lights. However, a clear and dark sky is required so might as
well move to secluded spots to have a better chance. It is also said to be the home of ‘Santa Claus’, so taking children along during the winter will www.visitrovaniemi.fi/love/northern-lights/ make it a memorable experience for everyone.
I hope you can plan an amazing gateway and relish the wonderful experiences nature has created. Happy Holidays!
-Asmi Karmarkar
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