A stunning splash of red, green, yellow and sometimes even blue and pink across the skies. Sounds totally beautiful, right? Well, these swirling rivers of colors that appear on a clear, dark night in high latitude places are the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights as they are commonly known. A natural phenomenon that occurs when solar winds interact with the magnetic field of the earth, Aurora Borealis is a spectacular sight to say the least and is on the bucket list of most travelers. As the electrically charged solar particles interact with the gases in the earth’s atmosphere, the riot of colors is almost a magical scene.
The year 2024 has been touted as one of the best years to witness this awe-inspiring display given some of the strongest geomagnetic storms the planet has witnessed coupled with intense solar activity. The lights are common in places located in the Arctic Circle especially in what is known as the Aurora oval. With winter approaching and the upcoming holiday season, here is a round up on some of the best places to witness the northern lights.
Norway
Easily reachable via a two-hour flight from the capital city, Oslo, Tromso is a favorite with aurora hunters. A winter wonderland from the end of October, Tromso offers comfortable places to stay and several tours from the city to witness the lights. Most tours start in the evening around 6 pm wherein a professional guide takes you to the aurora hotspots. You can enjoy marshmallows, hot chocolate and even cake while witnessing the celestial show on a chilly night.
The pristine archipelago of Svalbard that lies in the middle of the Arctic Ocean and in between Norway and the North Pole is again a great place to witness the lights. Given its high latitude, there is no light during the winters i.e. from November to January making it an excellent venue to view the lights during any time of the day!
Finland
Often considered to be one of the best places to see the northern lights, Finland including the northern most region, Lapland, is a highly sought after destination with travelers to see this celestial wonder. Rovaniemi, Muonio, Ivalo and Levi are popular places with most people opting for aurora tours which include evening excursions, staying in glass igloo and even snowmobiling to see the lights. You can also choose to go on a dogsledding or reindeer sledding safari to witness the spectacle is wilderness. Make sure you visit during September and March for the best sightings.
Iceland
The south coast of Iceland boasts of beautiful locations where you can enjoy the Northern lights. From sea stacks to iceberg lagoons and glaciers to lighthouses, there are several places which are a favorite with aurora viewers. The Jökulsárlónglacier lagoon, the Snæfellsnes peninsula and the Gróttalighthouse, all known for their exquisite beauty, are some of the iconic landmarks which you could visit while waiting for the Northern lights to show up. Most of these places are easily accessible from Reykjavík which explains why they are so popular with light hunters.
Canada
December to March is often considered to be the luckiest time to see the lights in Canada with more sightings possible as you travel up north. Youkon in the north western part of the country, Churchill in Manitoba as well as Yellowknife located about 250 miles south of the Arctic circle are known to experience intense geomagnetic activity making it a haven for aurora hunters. However, it is key to note that one can likely catch the lights even in lower latitudes and hence if you are lucky, you can catch the colors from your window in Ontario and even Toronto!
Alaska
The season from the end of August to end of April is called the Aurora season in Alaska due to shorter days and longer, darker nights. Usually visible in the outskirts of towns rather than in cities and town interiors, the Interior and Arctic regions of the state are considered to be the best for seeing the lights. Apart from Fairbanks, Coldfoot, Wiseman and Utqiagvik (Barrow) are known for high auroral activity. Apart from evening tours, there are multi day overnight packages which often ensure a guaranteed sighting. Coupled with professional guides who offer tips on how to photograph the lights, there are dedicated apps that predict the chance of light activity quite accurately. Needless to say, the viewing of the lights is definitely a matter of luck and cannot be predicated with total accuracy.
So, what are you waiting for? Tick off your dream of seeing the magnificent Aurora Borealis from your bucket list before 2024 comes to an end!
