Those magical lights are also known as “Aurora” or “the polar lights” because they can be seen only near the North and the South poles of Earth. Also, the southern lights are not as famous and beautiful as the northern lights are.
What are the Northern lights?
When, at night, the sky is dark and nothing can be seen as far as eyes can look, these lights appear and change the entire scenario. Sometimes they are red or blue, then they show up in green or pink and at other times, they are just a mixture of all the colors of nature.
And then instead of being stationary, they move. It just looks as if they are dancing. They change shapes and forms. It looks as if a very skillful artist is using all the colors in the world to draw the most beautiful painting the World has ever seen. The sight is so mesmerizing that the people who travel from all the corners of the World to see this natural light show in the night sky get lost in the sight. They cannot believe what their eyes see and they seem to be lost in the moment forever.
Are Northern Lights Real?
Yes, Northern lights are absolutely real and yes, there is scientific reasoning behind their occurrence. The northern lights are caused by the interaction of the solar wind and the magnetic field of Earth. The solar wind is not like the usual wind. It is generated by Sun and contains a lot of sub-atomic particles like electrons and protons etc. The solar wind travels through space to reach Earth. When it enters Earth’s magnetic field, sometimes the particles change their paths. When these particles enter the atmosphere, they cause a disturbance in the already present particles as well.
So, this excitation and deexcitation of the particles emit light of different wavelengths depending upon their energy levels. This is the reason why these lights are of so many colors because the lights of different wavelengths show different colors. As these processes occur in the upper atmosphere, so these lights are most seen between altitudes of 60 miles to 250 miles.
Where can you see the Northern Lights?
Northern lights are usually seen in a region known as Auroral Oval. It was named this because of the recurring occurrence of the Northern Lights in this region. According to experts, this oval has a 2500 km radius in the north pole. This region covers Scandinavian countries, Greenland, and then to Northern areas of North America such as some areas of Canada and Alaska. At times, they are also observed in other states of the United States. In Asia, this region also involves some of the areas of Russia.
Although a large number of areas are part of the auroral oval, these lights are not always visible. It is mostly in Alaska and Greenland that they are visible for most of the year.
Out of all these places around the world, you can truly enjoy this beautiful display of nature’s art where everything else is as beautiful as the sky. Some of these beautiful places are:
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is the second-largest city in the state of Alaska in the United States. This city is famous for its breathtaking and amazing natural sights. As the city lies within the Auroral region, this city turns out to be your ideal destination if you want to see the lights dancing. The aurora season is between August 21 to April 21 and you can see the colors of nature every four out five nights you spend here.
Fairbanks is not a very populous city so it is very calm and peaceful. The temperature falls up to -240 centigrade in the winters. So, don’t forget to talk about all the warm clothes you have. Once you arrive at the city, you can choose from a dog sledding or snowmobiling tour. Some tourists like to go on a ride in a riverboat in the evening so that they can spend the night in the water and enjoy the beauty of nature while floating. Others just like to spend their time beneath the open skies and see what they had only heard of before.
When the night falls and darkness encapsulates everything, the real show begins. People get to witness one of the most delightful sights they will ever see. When the lights dance in front of their eyes, they are left spellbound.
The beauty and charm of the lights increase manifold by the serenity of the environment. It seems as if the entire universe has gone silent in tribute to the mind-blowing landscape. This is why the location is so special. You can see the lights in many places of the World but you will not find this calmness and serenity anywhere else. Mostly the lights are green and white but if you are lucky, you might see nature adding a tint of purple to the show and making it immensely more astonishing.
Lapland, Finland
Scandinavian countries are famous all around the world for their beauty. Nature has bestowed them with some of the most astonishing places which attract tourists from all around the World. It appears as if this area is mother nature’s favorite.
After blessing Scandinavian countries with countless places, they have the gift of the fancy night sky of the North. What else could be a better place to witness this magic of nature than Lapland in Finland?
It is the northernmost region of Finland. This place is already the perfect example of heaven on Earth and the northern lights only add more charm. It has forests as well as mountains, lakes as well as rivers. The place is mostly uninhabited so there is a vast empty land.
When snow falls in winters, it looks as if the entire area has taken a white blanket. This is why this area hosts large numbers of tourists in winter. To add to this beauty, the Northern Lights can be seen on almost 200 nights between September and March.
Some people only visit this region to witness this magic in the icy cold nights. When the Sun sets on this land and night takes charge with its gloominess, the aesthetic light show starts and scares away all thoughts in the mind.
Once the lights are on, no living can move their eyes. Everyone is spellbound, lost in the sight, as if they have frozen to their places. Not by the weather but the beautiful display of colors in the sky. Since the land is mostly covered with snow and ice, the reflections are also visible over the land. It looks as if it is a giant dancing floor with lights moving and changing colors like in a party. As if nature is inviting everyone to enjoy its artistry.
Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
Many might have never heard the name, Greenland but it is one of the most beautiful countries on Earth. It is a northern country located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans and is very famous for the visibility of the northern lights.
Most prominently it’s Kangerlussuaq municipality in the western part of the country. This region is considered the hub of Northern lights. This region also has a research center where these lights are being studied for the past 30 years.
Although it is not a very easily accessible area, if you somehow manage to get here to witness the beauty of nature, we guarantee that you will not regret it ever. All the toil and trouble is worth it.
Compared to other countries where these lights can be observed, they can be seen for the longest period of the year in Kangerlussuaq. You can visit this place anytime between September and June and you will not be disappointed at all.
Since the lights cannot be easily seen in the town of Kangerlussuaq, the tourists will have to take a ride and drive further in the land of nothing. The land is mostly uninhabited holds all the beauties of nature. As the night falls and you get farther away from the city, you will see the curtains of lights and colors unfolding themselves in front of you.
The sight is so calm and breathtaking that every watching eye becomes still as if made of stone. No one blinks for they fear they might miss a moment. Everyone wants to record the film in their minds.
