“When green streaks light up the night sky, the effect is otherworldly--like some toxic spill from the International Space Station.”
That’s a favourite quote of mine... from a traveller who was struck spellbound by the Northern Lights.
This colourful display of natural lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, can be seen at night-time in northern regions of the world – strangely enough it can’t be seen in the Southern Hemisphere so whatever you do, don’t travel to Chile for a glimpse.
The Northern Lights are shrouded in mystery, and adjectives like other-worldly, stunning and mesmerising often fall short in showcasing the grandeur of this phenomenon. The lights have often inspired poets down the ages, and if you want to feel the epic beauty through the power of words, read The Ballad Of The Northern Lights by Robert Service, the ‘bard of the Yukon’.
In the right conditions, the Northern Lights display lights up the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions... sometimes for just minutes, and occasionally up to a few hours. Millions of particles of light create natural fireworks in various hues and patterns. We’d like to say how it’s created but that would involve physics and a few hours. Better to let that be.
Can you see the Northern Lights from UK? Actually, you can, but rarely. And you’ll have to travel far north. Certainly you can’t really ‘plan’ to see the Northern Lights in the UK so it’s best to travel further afield.
The optimal places to observe this lighting display is therefore in the far northern climes, like Iceland, Greenland, Alaska, Canada and Lapland. The Swedish Lapland, with its virtually cloud-free sky, and south Iceland are considered two of the best locations in the world to view the Northern Lights.
Active You, a few years ago, paid a visit to Trondheim in Norway, just south of the Artic Circle. We were visiting friends in a Steiner Community in Jossassen, a beautiful setting amidst hundreds of acres of pine forest and lakes. Totally out of the blue, up popped the Aurora Borealis and we can vouch for the fact that it was spectacular.
Would we have visited the far reaches of Norway just to see the Northern Lights? In retrospect, probably not. But if you have to travel to Norway or near the Artic Circle then it’s a fabulous addition to your trip…..
On that note, remember to carry your camera along. You’ll need a good digital or film camera, and you’ll also have to pack a sturdy tripod to capture clear photographs, since the required exposure time often exceeds 15-20 seconds, and you won’t get the best results by hand-holding the camera.
The period between November to March is the best time to visit these places for seeing the lights, as this is the darkest time of the year. (Note: Avoid full moon days, as a radiant moon can diminish the intensity of the spectacle.)
So what’s left to do before you set off? Flights, hotels, insurance, transport and a whole lot of hassle? Just sneak a peek at Holiday You for the best holiday offers on the Web.
