The tremendous natural light shows known as the Northern Lights are most commonly seen in the skies over the polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctica.
The cosmic extravaganza manifests itself as enormous swaths of light in the sky, clouds of light, flowing lights that can take the form of arcs, rippling curtains of light, or shooting beams, and other kinds of light as well.
Even though variations of red, blue, yellow, and violet lights can sometimes be seen, pale green and pink displays are the most common colors in the aurora borealis.
As a consequence of temperatures reaching millions of degrees Celsius just above the surface of the sun, violent and explosive collisions between gas molecules are produced.
Because of this, charged electrons and protons are ejected into space and carried through the cosmos by solar winds. When these charged particles travel through the magnetic fields and enter the earth’s atmosphere, they come into contact with gas particles.
These spectacular displays are produced as a result of these minuscule collisions. The Northern Lights are referred to by their Latin name, Aurora borealis, while the Southern Lights are referred to by their Latin name, Aurora australis.
The phenomenon known as the aurora is cyclic, which means that it reaches its peak once every 11 years. Winter is often the most excellent time to watch the Northern Lights in the northern hemisphere.
The prolonged periods of darkness combined with the clear evenings provide for a fantastic viewing experience.
The Northern Lights may be viewed best from the following locations, in contrast to the Southern Lights, which are only visible from a limited number of locations throughout the world:
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Greenland
As a result of being located within the aurora oval, the western and northwestern shores of this independent Danish area provide the finest opportunities to witness the Northern Lights.
Greenland is so sparsely inhabited that its skies are free of pollution and remain pristine during the whole aurora season, which runs from August to April. Even the city lights do not diminish the vividness of the spectacle since the settlements are so sparse.
To put the cherry on top of it all, western Greenland is home to terrain that provides some of the most breathtaking settings for viewing the Northern Lights.
You may witness the auroral beauty at a UN World Heritage site in Ilulissat, which is also a place where iceberg flows flood the fjord.
This destination offers the best of both worlds. If you find yourself on the east coast, you should know that Tassilaq fjord can compete with the popular sites on the west coast in terms of the spectacle the Northern Lights offer.
There are several locations in Greenland where the climate is almost always suitable for a transparent sky.
Kangerlussuaq, located away from the shore and has an average of 300 days of clear sky each year, is the most excellent location in Greenland to view the Northern Lights.
Alaska
Even though the depth of winter in Alaska is the time of year with the darkest sky, the Northern Lights may still be seen at the end of summer, around the beginning of September.
This is even though this is the prime viewing season. Even though the best period to see the Northern Lights is from 11:30 pm to 3:30 am, you may start watching the sky an hour and a half after sunset if you expect to see them.
The hours between midnight and four thirty in the morning are ideal in the autumn and spring.
Fairbank, Anchorage, and the Brooks Range are the spots in Alaska where you have the best chance of seeing the aurora borealis and where it is least likely to interfere with your comfort.
It is possible to travel several hours further north from Fairbanks, located within the aurora oval. Talkeetna is a beautiful destination that vacationers may reach after a journey of several days that begins in Anchorage.
Even though the Brooks Range is only 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the Arctic Circle, you will still be able to see a beautiful night sky display there. You might even get to see the Lights on a trip that departs at the end of the season.
New Zealand
It is commonly believed that Northern Norway is home to some of the unique vantage points in all of Norway for viewing the Northern Lights; however, this is only partially accurate.
However, the region offers an impressive infrastructure for arctic tourism, which includes a wide variety of winter activities and a good range of hotels. This is a positive aspect of the territory.
Even though you’re at sea, you may take in the spectacle. The most excellent time of day to view the Northern Lights in Norway is between 6 pm, and 1 am when the skies are entirely dark. The Aurora season in Norway runs from late September to late March.
Even while the Northern Lights Observatory in Tromso may appear to be the most excellent site to observe the auroral show, a wide variety of popular destinations for viewing the aurora borealis, Hammerfest, the Lofoten Islands, Lynjenfjord, Narvik, the North Cape, Vesteralen, and Svalbard are the lucky ones to have pollution-free skies.
Also on the list is Vesteralen. In addition to its well-known ice hotels, Norway is home to several purpose-built apartments with a view of the northern lights.
Finland
If seeing the Northern Lights is one of the things you want to do throughout your lifetime, a good rule of thumb is that the further north you travel, the greater your chances of making that dream come true.
The term Aurora Oval refers to an area that extends farther north of the Arctic Circle and encompasses a significant portion of Finnish Lapland. This region is believed to be where the Aurora Borealis is most frequently seen.
Because Sodankyla is home to Finland’s National Observatory of the Northern Lights, it is widely regarded as one of the premier locations from which to witness the phenomenon.
Staying in igloos or purpose-built cottages to observe the Northern Lights from the inside is a fantastic way to avoid the chill while still being able to view the beautiful show.
Rovaniemi is a well-known destination, and the surrounding region is also subject to a real-time Aurora Watch. The Inari Lake, home to most of Finland’s fjords, is yet another fantastic location to observe the auroral display.
Since Oulanka, Luosto, and Urho Kekkonen National Parks all have bright skies, visitors may combine seeing the Northern Lights show with taking in other sights at any of these national parks.
Ivalo, next to Urho Kekkonen Park; Nellim, situated on Lake Inari’s shores; and Lake Kilpisjarvi, located in the west of Finland, close to the Swedish border. These are all sites associated with gods.
Sweden
The influence of the Gulf Stream, which causes the winters in Sweden’s northern regions to be milder than they would otherwise be, is a significant element that might give Sweden an advantage in terms of the Northern Lights.
The best time to view the Northern Lights in Swedish Lapland is between September and April. The Northern Lights may be seen from a vast portion of Sweden’s northernmost regions.
The sky that can be seen from Jokkmokk to the Norwegian border provides for some of the most beautiful backgrounds throughout the winter.
Even cities as far south as Stockholm and Gothenburg in Sweden may, infrequently, be graced by the presence of the Northern Lights.
Once more, your ability to observe the celestial light works depends on the weather and the length of time you want to spend there.
Even if the Lights do appear, you won’t be able to get a decent look at them if there are clouds in the sky, even if the brightness of the Lights is exceptional.
While it would seem like a sure guarantee to view the Northern Lights during the harshest winter months, snow sports and other activities become prohibited during this time.
Canada
Even though the Northern Lights only emerge once every week or ten days in the Great White North, there are plenty of other things to do and see there. The northern provinces provide various vantage points from which to observe the celestial show.
Visitors to Yukon will likely get more than one chance to watch the lights. Make sure you get away from the bright lights of Whitehorse city before you go.
When we talk about Yukon, we have to mention that the Dempster Highway, which is a highway that travels up to the Arctic Circle, features some of the most mesmerizing light displays.
The grasslands of North Saskatchewan contain some of the darkest skies in North America, and ice-fishing lodges provide excellent vantage points for viewing the Northern Lights.
The magnificent show put on by the sky is reflected in the calm waters of Mucho Lake, located in British Columbia, at various times throughout the year.
Because most auroras occur north of the 56th parallel, Fort McMurray is one of the best places to view the Northern Lights.
Iqaluit, Nunavut residents, virtually always have the Northern Lights to themselves because there is no tourism infrastructure in the province of Nunavut, and only a select group of brave explorers are allowed to come here.
Guests staying in the Northwest Territories have a ninety percent chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights at some point during their trip.
Islandia
Iceland is considered one of the most fantastic destinations to view the auroral show since the skies above this sparsely inhabited yet gorgeous volcanic island are free of pollution.
The island boasts the most significant stretch of dark months between September and mid-April, ideal for viewing the Lights, which are best seen in complete darkness.
When traveling to Iceland, the length of time you spend there is more important than the location of your lodging. The lights arrive in waves, lasting for two or three nights before vanishing for many days at a time.
These cycles repeat themselves. To improve the likelihood of witnessing the show, it is advised that you extend your trip for a minimum of seven nights.
The weather is another consideration that must be considered throughout your visit. On this island in the north Atlantic, the weather gods can change their minds anytime.
Clear evenings in Iceland, which often have temperatures far below freezing, are the most extraordinary times to view the Northern Lights. On nights with a higher temperature, there is a greater chance of precipitation or cloud cover, both of which obscure the view.
It is usually a brilliant idea to check the weather forecasts leading up to your trip from the Icelandic Meteorological Office or the Aurora Prediction Page. Both of these resources may be found on the internet.