The Northern Lights is an awe-striking phenomenon that everyone should have an opportunity to witness during their lifetime. This natural wonder circles the globe centered off of the North Magnetic Pole, so usually one has to travel north to see it. The best countries to catch Aurora are Alaska, the northern halves of Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the southern half of Greenland and Iceland, and the Western half of Russia.
When trying to see the Northern Lights, it is important to pick the right location. The most suitable locations lie under what it called the “Aurora Oval,” which changes according to activity of the sun. Some of these locations are: Rekjavik, Iceland, Ivalo, Finland, Kiruna, Sweden, Tromso, Norway, and most places in Alaska. It is best to go to smaller communities to see the lights because often times larger cities suffer from light pollution.
The best time to go to see the Aurora Borealis is between September and March because the lights are only visible when it is dark outside. September, October, and March are considered the top months because activity rises in proximity to the spring and autumn equinox.
Aurora Borealis means “The Dawn of the North” and was named after the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora. There are also the Southern Lights called the Aurora Australis or “The Dawn of the South.” The Southern Lights are a mirror image of the Northern Lights that occur at the same time. There are significantly fewer places to go to see the Southern Lights since it mostly occurs over Antarctica and the Indian Ocean, which is why most people travel to see the Northern Lights instead.
Unfortunately, the peak time to see the Northern Lights recently passed in 2013. But for the next nine years, the lights will grow brighter until another peak is reached in 2023. This is a natural wonder that takes a bit of planning and a potentially long wait, but it is more than worth it!
For more information about the Northern Lights: https://www.theaurorazone.com/about-the-aurora
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
