why they occur, when to see them and the best places to “hunt” the northern lights

Dancing specters or spirits of the dead; warrior armor or the breath of the god Odin. From the indigenous people of North America to Norse mythology and the beliefs of the Vikingsthe northern lights have always provoked fascination and led to all kinds of speculations since ancient times.

Until science could explain the “northern lights”, capricious, changing and hypnotic. And at the same time, a challenge for the patience of travelers.

But, what are the northern lights? It is a phenomenon that is created when electrically charged solar particles collide with the Earth’s upper atmosphere. The energy released from the belt surrounding the North Pole is the northern lights, which occur 100 km above our heads.

According to statistics, during the northern autumn (September and October) the greatest aurora activity begins to be recorded, which continues strongly in the middle of winter (January and February) and ends in spring (March and April).

In other words, The natural spectacle lasts about 200 nights a yearreaching its peak two hours before and two hours after midnight, with a glow and “vibrant dance” that can last 30 seconds or several hours.

In turn, on cold nights, the sky is usually clearer and it is easier to see the auroras. Factors such as geomagnetic activity, light pollution and weather conditions are also considered.

As for the variation of colors, these depend on the particles involved: in the lower layers of the atmosphere, oxygen particles form green and yellow tones – the most common – and in the higher layers, red and purple. When nitrogen predominates, the lights are blue and purple.

Below, the best places in the northern hemisphere to enjoy this phenomenon, at least once in your life.

Its inhabitants often refer to the auroras as “the green lady.” Northern Norway has the best and most consistent opportunities to see them, as that part of the country is just below the aural oval.

There are two areas that stand out for observations: the town of Tromsø It is a good starting point to explore the Norwegian Lapland and the North Cape.

But we must also take into account the islas Lofoten and Vesteralen: there the sky lights up in an environment that has wonders such as Preikestolen (translated as Pulpit Rock), which rises more than 600 meters above the Lysefjord.

Auroras sometimes appear in other areas of the country, such as Trøndelag and parts of the south. To get the most out of the experience, avoid full moon nights because they are less clear.

While the Sámi – indigenous people of Sweden – believed that the northern lights were the souls of the dead, the Vikings thought they were the valkyries (virgin warriors) who carried fallen soldiers to meet Odin.

The four must-see sites to see the Northern Lights are:

• Kiruna: It is the northernmost city and the perfect base for exploring Sweden’s great white north. You arrive by train or plane from Stockholm and, once there, there are options to see them by car, snowmobile, snowshoeing, skis or dog sledding.

• Abisko: 100 km from Kiruna, the Aurora Sky observation station is a great option in Abisko National Park. You can take a chairlift to the observation tower with a cafe and souvenir shop.

• Jukkasjärvi: 20 minutes from Kiruna, the town has the famous Icehotel. Accommodation packages and snowmobile excursions with dinner in a cabin are sold.

• Leek juice: is a small town 60 km north of the Arctic Circle. In Lapland, a World Heritage Site, on the edge of a lake, you can rent a cabin and enjoy the dancing lights with a glass of mulled wine (glögg) or glamping.

In Rovaniemi, Santa’s official hometowntours depart to explore this part of Lapland with expert aurora guides. The idea is to “chase” the lights several nights, increasing the chances of success. The guides carry professional cameras and serve typical snacks and hot drinks.

The routes are chosen following weather conditions and solar activity. Additionally, there are mobile apps to check your chances of seeing them, and the Finnish Meteorological Institute has a weather website that shows aurora activity.

While in Kemi you can see them from glass igloos, in Saariselkä (Inari) and Levi (Kittilä) there are facilities with glass roofs. Meanwhile, the town of Ylläs turns off the lights at 10 p.m. to avoid light pollution.

In it Arctic Circle Northern Lights immersion experiences are organized in pristine environments, and in Pyhätunturi there are snow and glass igloos – such as Lucky Ranch – to observe them.

In the extreme darkness of the Icelandic winter, the “northern lights” are most intense from September to April.

Because to fully enjoy this natural phenomenon you need darkness and a clear sky, which is why visitors usually check the state of the weather, cloud cover and boreal activity on the Icelandic Meteorological Office website and also on Auroraforecast. .es.

When the activity is beginning, a green arc generally appears towards the north and the guides advise taking the North Star as a reference on starry nights to orient yourself north from the Earth. It is clear that “the hunt for the northern lights” sometimes requires a lot of patience, but those who wait usually achieve a magnificent reward.

The places to see them are:

• Akureyri, Isafjordur or Húsavík: these cities are close to the Arctic Circle.

• Þingvellir National Park – is located near Reykjavík and offers clear skies.

• Jökulsárlón Lagoon: the auroras are reflected in the glacial waters.

• Reykjanes: a region that is close to the airport and offers spectacular views.

• Snaefellsnes Peninsula: known as “Iceland in miniature”, it has a great variety of landscapes.

• Kirkjufell: this mountain of volcanic origin is one of the most beautiful places to see auroras.

• Hvitserkur: a curiously shaped sea cliff that is a good photo spot.

• Asbyrgi Canyon: In the north of Iceland, it is very popular for hiking.

In some regions of Canada, the northern lights cross the sky 300 days a year, especially in the north. To see them they are unmissable:

• Yukon: With its spectacular mountains (Mount Logan, at 5,959 meters, is the highest peak in the country), the Yukon region is noted for its lakes and wildlife, such as eagles, bears, moose and beavers.

Up North Adventures offers canoe or kayak tours on the Yukon River from Whitehorse, while Yukon Guided Adventures organizes rafting excursions. Kluane National Park also offers hiking and camping.

• Northwest Territories: represent the home of the Dene indigenous people. In Yellowknife, some companies organize excursions to “hunt” auroras, traveling in all-terrain vehicles and making stops, as is the case with North Star Adventures, whose guide reads the sky in search of the lights. I’m (in Spanish, “the sky is shaking”).

And in Aurora Village there is heated outdoor viewing seats that rotate 360 ​​degrees to see the show from all angles.

In turn, travelers can stay in traditional thin (conical tents used by the indigenous people of North America), heated by a wood fire. And as in the past, they can travel by dog ​​sled.

• Alberta– Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, Jasper National Park is home to the second largest dark sky preserve.

• Manitoba: Home to wolves, foxes, moose, beluga whales and polar bears, Churchill in Manitoba is a place that sees an average of 300 nights of auroral activity a year with local wildlife in action.

• Nunavut: Well north of Quebec, the Inuit people live there and combine aurora sightings with an immersion in their culture. Ungava Polar Eco-Tours organizes the watching along with hiking, cycling and boating, observing caribou and polar bears.

Snowmobiling, sledding and skiing These are some of the winter activities that you can take advantage of in the Alaska winter, in addition to seeing the impressive natural spectacle of the auroras.

While they can be seen from throughout this American region, they are most visible from the interior and the Arctic. One of the best places is Fairbanks due to its location, the number of hours of darkness, the variety of tours and specialized accommodations. In addition, there are aurora “tracker” websites.

It’s a little further away Murphy Domeone of the ideal locations to see the sky and its green, purple and blue colors.

Other inland, Arctic and south central locations (e.g. Anchorage, Coldfoot, Wiseman, Talkeetna, Utquiagvik, Prudhoe Bay and Dedhorse) offer single-day tours or multi-night packages to more remote locations to increase your chances of seeing the lights.