If you like to have unforgettable experiences, you should be on your list of things to do to see the northern lights. In general, you have to go to a place where you can see them, although due to the weather there are times when they cannot be seen.
If you want to know more about where to see the aurora borealis, what it is and best places In the following lines we tell you about it.
Auroras are a fascinating phenomenon, despite the fact that we know their origin, they continue to conquer us. Throughout history they have had hundreds of explanations, especially those related to the dance and spiritual power of the Vikings and the Valkyries.
In XVII century, Galileo Galilei, gave its current name to the Aurora Borealis. Aurora, after the Roman goddess of dawn, and Boreal derived from the Greek word borea, which means North.
What are the Northern Lights and how do they occur?
La aurora boreal o Northern Lights, as they are called in English, It is a natural phenomenon that involves the energy of the sun and the magnetism of the Earth.. Without this phenomenon, life on Earth would be very different. In fact, it is a phenomenon without which we could not exist.
The Sun as such, is subjected to great pressure and a very high temperature that causes huge solar explosions to occur. And from these massive amounts of particles are released.
In fact, ultraviolet radiation, in certain spectra, is harmful to humans and other living things. If it weren't for the Earth's magnetic field, it would affect us through genetic mutations. Fortunately, the Earth has a method of protection invisible to the human eye called the magnetosphere. When steady waves of solar particles hit the magnetosphere, many of them are deflected. But when a coronal mass ejection arrives, the charged particles pass through the outer shell's magnetic field.
These particles are free and continue on their way to Earth and are carried to the poles by the Earth's magnetic shield until they reach the upper atmosphere at very high speeds, waking up the air molecules and making them glow. When these particles collide with Oxygen they emit in red and green, and with Nitrogen they emit in blue.
In short, the aurora borealis is the result of the protection of the Earth from the arrival of solar particles.
When is the best time to see the Northern Lights?
The auroras appear all year round, but to see them you need the darkness of the night. So, the best time of year is winter in regions near the poles, with few hours of sunlight during the months from the end of October to the end of March, or even April.
In the Arctic there are very few days with clear skies in winter, and not all places have the same climate or conditions, which is inconvenient when traveling to see the Northern Lights.
As well It is positive that you look for places far from the cities, areas where there is no light pollution to have the greatest possible darkness in the sky. Some areas where there is no light pollution are ideal for seeing the Northern Lights even from the end of August.
Another factor to take into account is the Moon, because it is more difficult to see the Northern Lights on full Moon days.
Where can you see the Northern Lights?
Contrary to what many believe, the highest concentrations of northern lights do not occur at the poles, but in the strip that surrounds them, where the atmosphere is more oval, where it more or less coincides with the polar circles. So any town near the North Pole, at 60º latitude, is where the Northern Lights will be seen most intensely.
That is, arctic regions such as Greenland, Iceland, northern Norway, Finland, Sweden, Russia, Canada, and northern Alaska.
Next, we are going to comment five of the best places where to see the northern lights:
- Iceland. Every year it receives more tourists attracted by its spectacular waterfalls and glaciers, petrified lava swamps, geysers, active volcanoes and thermal lagoons. During the winter, the weather conditions are more severe and many roads are closed due to the weather, but it makes up for seeing the Northern Lights, especially in the northern part of the island. You don't have to travel far from Reykjavík to see them: the Grótta lighthouse in Seltjarnarnes or the Oskjuhlid forest hill are two good observatories. Another possibility is to take refuge in a rural hostel and wait for the show to start. Some hotels even offer wake-up calls if the Northern Lights appear in the middle of the night while you're sleeping. The Norwegian airline offers flights from Madrid and Barcelona to Reykjavik in winter for around €130 round trip.
- Norway. One of the best places to observe this phenomenon is in the north of Norway: Tromsø, Lofoten Islands or cities such as Kirkenes or Alta in the province of Finnmark, which have daily flights from Oslo, warm and comfortable hotels and travel service companies. , which will guide you through the best places to observe this phenomenon. Alta is also known for its Sorrisniva Igloo ice hotel. Norwegian Air flies between Madrid and Alta with a stopover in Oslo for around €296 round trip. the shipping company hurtgruten in the winter season it offers cruises with the seal Northern Lights Promise Seal. This seal offers a guarantee to passengers that they will see the northern lights, and if this is not the case due to weather conditions, said cruise trip will cost them zero.
- Finland. Northern Finland is where you have the best conditions to see the aurora. In addition to this, according to the latest UN report, it is the happiest country in the world, how can you resist traveling to Finland? There is a Japanese legend that says that those people who hug and love under the light of the northern lights are lucky, even that babies born as a result of this moment under the northern lights are healthier and stronger. This makes Finland a top choice among many Japanese couples for their honeymoon trip. The Kakslauttanen hotel (in Saariselkä) offers accommodation in igloos made of thermal glass where you can see the northern lights from your bed. It is a half hour drive from Ivalo airport.
- Canada and Alaska. In Canada, cities with extensive development and practically virgin regions border, from the Cascade Mountains in British Columbia (Canada) to Mount Milley National Park in the Labrador peninsula, more than 200 protected natural spaces. Toronto-based Arctic Kingdom organizes snowmobile safaris to remote areas of Nunavut and Baffin Island, polar bear sightings and hotel accommodations, away from the light and noise pollution of cities. On weekends from December to March, the Alaska Winter Snow TrainDubbed the Northern Lights Train, it travels between Anchorage and Fairbanks through the snowy fields of Alaska in search of the Northern Lights.
- Greenland Kangerlussuaq, is a city on the west coast of Greenland, which has a probability of clear skies 300 days a year. In addition, the only international airport on the island is in that city. It is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights. On the edge of Disko Bay, and with 4700 inhabitants, is the city of Ilulissat. In that city, about 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, is the Arctic Hotel. A hotel made up of the main building, with the classic rooms and suites, and five metal igloos. These igloos are perfect for couples who want to live this experience near the Ilulissat fjord, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2004.
We hope that here we have resolved your doubts about where the northern lights can be seen, and that you can make the unique trip that you are thinking of.