See an aurora is an almost magical phenomenon. Blue and green lights in the sky are amazing when you see them for the first time and although a good picture of an aurora is a complicated task, always a pleasant and unique feeling. You want to see auroras this winter? These are the best places to get it.
The first thing to say is that the aurora or northern lights are only seen in the northern hemisphere, although there are also auroras austral that can be seen south of Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Australia- although there take place in the austral winter, coinciding with our summer.
In the northern hemisphere, the preferred place to see the Auroras is the area of Scandinavia (Norway, Finland, Sweden) but can also be seen in Iceland and parts of Canada or the United States (Alaska). With this background, where you can see auroras this winter?
Norway, paradise to see auroras
You may not have a chance to see the northern lights flying over the sky with a paramotor but from the ground, well wrapped and with a little patience and luck, it is not difficult to find a good northern lights in Norway, where with a little luck, we can live an amazing experience.
Note that see auroras is not guaranteed. An aurora, whose name derives from the Roman goddess of Breaking Dawn, is an atmospheric phenomenon where you particles from clouds of solar radiation entering the Earth’s atmosphere, and to contact the energy of the magnetic field of the Earth, create a wonderful and unique light show. However, if the day -better said the night is cloudy, though the aurora occurs will not be easy to see in conditions.
In Norway, as in other Nordic countries, the best places are above the Arctic Circle.In the case of Norway, the best area to see the Auroras is the area of Tromso, the territory of the Lofoten Islands and if we go north, the northernmost point, Nord Kapp or North Cape.
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In Senya, near the Lofoten Tromsø they are traditional or sightings of the aurora borealis. I myself had occasion to see my first aurora at that point, when I traveled to Norway to see the migrations of cod skrei.
Other northern hemisphere where Northern Lights
I already talked about in this post other great spots to see the aurora borealis. Thus, Greenland was the first place we know that these wonders of nature were in the thirteenth century.
In Alaska three points are noted: Bear Lake, where the effect is magical at the Aurora reflected in its waters, or ice; Fairbanks, near the Arctic Circle and Denali National Park where you can enjoy the aurora between high mountains and glaciers.
Other places to see auroras are Murmansk, in Russia, Yellowknife, in Canada or in Estonia, increasingly popular for hunters Auroras. Also in the Scandinavian area, they are recommended for auroral zones Rovaniemi, Ivalo and Sodankylä in Finland and Kiruna and Lulea in Sweden.
In Iceland, you can also see the northern lights, especially in the National Park Thingvellir, a place that has the additional advantage to be relatively close to the capital, Reykjavik. Another interesting point in this country is the Jökulsárlón Glacier, where the visual spectacle can be magnificent.
Also in the UK, but in the remote Shetland Islands, you may see auroras. Located north of Scotland in them can occasionally spot auroras in the winter months.
Tips to see and photograph auroras
- Always wear warm clothes because the wait can be long.
- In Norway they have created an app to locate the auroras that tells you when you can try and when to wait.
- Always use a tripod and expose the photo for six or seven seconds.
- And above all, do not stop looking at the aurora, regardless photography northern lights because each is unique.