Roald Dahl once said that those who don’t believe in magic will never find it. If you want to believe but don’t know where to start, head north to look for aurora borealis.
Their season is just around the corner, so the time has come again to start looking for first-row seats.
What exactly are the northern lights?
Every year between September and March, a unique natural phenomenon lights up the night sky above Antarctica, Canada, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Alaska.
Thanks to the Earth’s magnetic field, we are saved from the impact of the fast sun particles. Sending them back towards the North Pole, their collision with different atmospheric particles combined with the height at which it occurs creates the magnificent blue, green, violet, and red light waves.
It can be a little tricky to catch them, but please be patient because it is so worth it!
Where to find them?
Don’t forget to regularly check the northern lights forecasts and be ready to change your location on foot quickly. Time flies when you have fun, so keep yourself busy and entertained with old-school games, for example. Best spots for watching the northern lights are:
- Norway: Head out to Svalbard to experience the northern lights during the polar night, or go to the north city of Tromsø to get the best seats in the house.
- Alaska: Some would say that Fairbanks is the best place in the world for northern lights watching, but you be the judge of that. If you go north to the Barrow, you’ll get immersed into the local culture as well.
- Canada: Places like Battle Harbour in Newfoundland and the town of Whitehorse are great, but the best views have to be in the Aurora Capital of North America, Yellowknife.
- Greenland: This is for the real adventurers, as it involves tricky transportation methods and freezing temperatures. If you are up for a challenge, head out to island Kulusuk or the town of Ilulissat.
- Northern lights cruises: Cunard cruises lead the game with 12-night cruises that start in England or 26-night cruises from NYC. Two large ships, top-notch service, accommodation and entertainment, and first-class views of the lights will cost you at least 1.640 euros.
If you plan on photographing them, take good care of your equipment as it can be affected by the harsh winter weather. Also, don’t forget to take care of your body as well! Warm clothing, skincare products, and hot drinks will be your best friends. Bon voyage!
Originally published at https://bookaweb.com.
