Our universe amazes us, and one such amusement is the Northern Lights. Seeing Northern lights have been on people’s bucket list. They wish to see it once in their lifetime.
These lights are seen above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres. They are known as ‘Aurora borealis’ in the north and ‘Aurora Australia’ in the south.
Corona layer of the sun which is the outermost contains charged particles, electrons, and protons, that travel through plasma also called solar wind in the low magnetic region of the earth, especially on the poles where there is a low magnetic field and thus these solar particles are deflected in earth’s atmosphere.
When these particles interact with the earth’s particles, this beautiful light emerges as a result of the collision.
Most common aurora color, a pale yellowish-green, is produced by oxygen molecules located about 60 miles above the earth. Rare, all-red auroras are produced by high-altitude oxygen, at heights of up to 200 miles. Nitrogen produces blue or purplish-red aurora.
Here are a few places mentioned for you to visit If you wish to witness the eerie glow of the northern lights.
Alaska
Alaska cruise with Cunard on Queen Elizabeth is one of the best ways to see the Northern Lights. in August or September especially. Alaska is in the Aurora oval—which is where the lights are most frequently seen. A clear night at sea is the perfect venue to stargaze, and being out on the water further illuminates the northern lights. There is no ambient light interference from the land.
Norway
The higher the latitude of a location, the better it serves as a Northern Lights viewpoint – and Svalbard is as up north as one can get. Sitting pretty and frozen between the 74th and the 81st parallel. This island – deep into the Arctic Circle, is a favorite Norway location. Svalbard gets a lot of tourist traffic in the months between November and February.
Another natural phenomenon – the Polar Night – is also a huge draw for visitors. Works well for sky gazers since Svalbard is without daylight from mid-November till the end of January. It increases your chances of spotting the beautiful Aurora Borealis.
Sweden
Legendary Icehotel—the world’s first hotel of ice and snow in the north of Sweden’s observation deck that’s perfect for viewing the northern lights.
Alberta, Canada
Winter nights come alive in Alberta. Visitors witness the hypnotizing astronomical greens, reds, purples, and yellows.
Aurora Borealis in some of the world’s largest dark sky preserves, including Wood Buffalo, Elk Island, and Jasper National Parks. That means there’s no artificial light around to obscure the extraterrestrial view.
Finland
Destinations known for northern lights are often expensive. Think again. Hostelworld is a great resource for affordable (under $30 per night) accommodations around the world to spot the northern lights.
Iceland
One of the most accessible and therefore extremely popular locations for Aurora viewing is the capital of Iceland . It is not just the Northern Lights that are a tourist draw here; there is plenty more to explore in Iceland – as it has many lands dotted with geysers, volcanoes, and blue ice.
Hope you visit these places. Also, visit Filmmaker from Colorado captures amazing pictures of Aurora Borealis.
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