"It's impossible, to be a witness to such a phenomena, without feeling awe. It appeals immediately to the imagination, because it seems to have a spirituelle source."
- Robert Scott (polar explorer) -
- Robert Scott (polar explorer) -
What are northern lights?
The northern lights are a kind of colorful light which you can see in the polar areas on the northern hemisphere. You can see them at night.
What causes the northern lights?
During the genesis of northern lights, also called polar lights, electrically charged particles from the sun penetrate the upper atmosphere of the earth along the magnetic field. The particles fly from a distance of over 1.000.000 km to the earth. When the particles enter the earth’s atmosphere, they collide with gas particles, for example nitrogen or oxygen. Due to this collision a myriad of sparks of lights, the northern lights become visible. The electrons and protons are moving on complicated tracks, which are dependent on the magnetic fields of the earth.
When and for how long can one see northern lights?
If you want to see northern lights, you should travel for example to Norway in the winter season. North of the polar circle the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon for weeks or months.
Now, here are some regions and cities, with their probability for seeing northern lights.
Northern Iceland: 10/10 nights Reykjavik : 9/10 nights
Tromsø: 9/10 nights Svalbard: 8/10 nights
Kiruna: 8/10 nights
Once a week you could see northern lights under optional conditions. The best months to see the lights are September, October, March and early April.
Now, here are some regions and cities, with their probability for seeing northern lights.
Northern Iceland: 10/10 nights Reykjavik : 9/10 nights
Tromsø: 9/10 nights Svalbard: 8/10 nights
Kiruna: 8/10 nights
Once a week you could see northern lights under optional conditions. The best months to see the lights are September, October, March and early April.
Locations for watching northern lights
There are many ways to observe the northern lights, whether in Iceland, Canada, Finland or Norway. Everywhere you can get the chance to see this great natural spectacle. When you follow the Norwegian coast to the North Cape, you have the best chances of seeing the northern lights. In Germany there is also the possibility to witness this process, but only if perfect conditions meet. So the sky has to be clear - that means no electrical light of the cities! When all these things match, you can get the chance to see the northern lights even in Germany.
Magnet for tourism
„For many people seeing the northern lights is one of the things they really want to do in their life“, the tourism director Per-Arne Tuftin said. The interest in the Northern-Lights trips to Norway has increased during the last years. For people from all over the world who travel around north Norway, the chance of the experience of the northern lights is one of the most important attractions of this part of the land. But there are of course other arctic adventures too, for example: journeys with snow-mobiles through frozen sceneries, overnight stays at an ice hotel, whale observation, ice fishing, cross-country skiing or bus tours. At all these activities there is the opportunity to see the northern lights.
Maybe one of you also has the dream to see these northern lights, do you? |
Colours of the northern lights
Some scientists explain this phenomena like this: The atmosphere consists of oxygen and nitrogen. If particles from the sun collide with the oxygen and nitrogen, the colours of the polar lights arise. The main colours yellow and green arise because of the oxygen. Oxygen could also cause a red colour. Nitrogen causes the blue, violet and dark red colour. You can say that northern lights are usually green and white but they could also be red, blue and violet.
Influence of the northern lights
The northern lights have effects on technical facilities. In particular satellites as well as airplanes are endangered. For security the flight routes are chosen to lie off the polar regions. Radio, funk and satellite navigation are disturbed. Even whole power supply systems drop out.
Stories and legends about the northern lights
Earlier there were many different interpretations of the northern lights. The point Barrow Eskimos thought they were a devilish symbol. They always carried a knife to protect themselves. For the Fox Indians it was a sign for a coming war or pestilence. The northern lights were also considered as dancing spirits or as the sky dancing fire. But for many Eskimos the light was created by children who had died at birth and now danced in the sky. These interpretations were a result because the people could not explain it. An ancient belief from Norway says: “If you wave at the northern lights they come down and get you!”