(Part – 2; Best places to view Aurora)
We are back with Part 2. In the last part (Best Guide to have a glimpse of Aurora), we discussed the factors that make it inevitable to watch these lights. In this part, we will give a list of places that are locations to witness the Northern and Southern Lights. First, let’s consider the Northern Lights.
As we mentioned in our previous blog, for the Northern Lights, those countries are best suited to lie near the Arctic Circle. For reference, you can check the map below for the countries surrounding the Arctic Circle.
1) Norway:
a) Tromso is one of the best places for viewing the Northern Lights because of its location (since it is located inside the Arctic Circle, in the Northern Lights oval). Here, the weather is usually clear as compared to other places. It is very convenient to travel to and visit this place due to its remarkable links to flights globally. Other tourist attractions include Polarion (Aquarium), snow sledging, Ersfjordbotn, which is located on the waterfront away from the city (30 min drive from Tromso), etc.
b) Svalbard: This place is a group of islands with the largest city named Longyearbyen, and the airport is in this city. This is the closest place to the north pole, around 1200 km. The northern light season in Svalbard is from late September to mid-March, with the best time being from 6 p.m. to midnight. December and January are the darkest months in Svalbard; it’s possible to catch a glimpse of Aurora even in the middle of the day. Svalbard is the only place on earth where you can experience what we refer to as the “daytime Northern Lights.” For this reason, a lot of international research takes place here on Aurora. The Northern Lights Observatory, EISCAT, and Himadri (India’s first permanent Arctic research station) are located here.
2) Finland:
The parts of Finland that lie inside the Arctic Circle (refer to the above map) are the places where the activity is strongest. Laplands are one of the unique lights to watch. It is the northernmost and largest region of Finland. Have you ever dreamed of stargazing into the clear night in a warm, cozy room with a transparent glass roof, surrounded by snow and coniferous trees? Well, maybe your dream can come true.
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, located in the town ‘Saahiselka’, can give you this opportunity. Surrounded by ice-covered mountains and plains, it contains Kelo igloo glass and traditional wood chalets. These thermal glass igloos feature a warm bedroom with a glass roof, especially for viewing the Northern Lights. It also contains a planetarium right next to it.
Finnish Laplands is also famous for being the hometown of Santa Claus. Rovaniemi, which is the capital of Lapland, is where you can visit Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus.
3) Iceland:
Even if the Northern Lights are visible throughout the country, Reykjavik (the capital of Iceland) will be the best location for it. Known for volcanoes, geothermal pools, and quality culture, these can also be do-able activities. Just like Tromso (Norway), the best months to see the Northern Lights are between September and April. For darker and clearer nights, you can visit Thingvellir National Park, located in an active volcanic area east of Reykjavik.
Another dark and isolated place is Hofdabrekka, near Vik, which is in the southern part of Iceland.
4) Greenland:
If you have a dream to witness this event without any weather disturbances and without getting any frostbite, then Greenland should be your location. This country experiences the night earlier than the rest of the world. If you have dreamed of sailing through the glaciers with chilling nights and stargazing at the same time, then you can opt for a sail trip that will travel through various cities like Nuuk, Illulisat, Sisimiut, etc. located on the west coast. If you are fortunate enough to get cloudless nights, then you can observe the lights from the deck itself. Even if you don’t get to see the lights, don’t worry; there will be plenty of stars in the sky along with their reflection in Arctic waters, which can steal your attention.
5) Sweden:
The Northern Lights season occurs between September and April (winter months), especially in December and January. During this time, the Northern Lights are displayed in their full glory in the Swedish Laplands and take place between 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. The show continues for about 15–30 minutes. The best places to throng for this event are:
- Abisko National Park: This place is one of the most popular locations for Aurora borealis, established in the Swedish province of Laplands near the Norwegian border.
- Camp Ripan: This is the best location for staying and observing the Northern Lights. It is situated in Kiruna, which is the northernmost town in Sweden and falls under the Aurora Belt, making the place conducive to watching the lights.
3. Jukkasjarvi: It is a locality situated in Kiruna. The world-famous IceHotel is a popular attraction in this place. The rooms are kept at -5oC to let ice remain intact, which is why only one night’s stay is recommended. However, other forms of warm accommodation are available, such as chalets and cabins. Staying in such a hotel gives you a full chance to catch the aurora in its best form because of the low level of pollution and its perfect location.
6) Canada:
The most excellent chances to see the Northern Lights are between late August and April. Winter is a suitable time to witness these lights in Canada, much appreciated for its long, dim evenings and clear skies. Even as the temperature begins to rise in the spring, the aurora borealis does not take a break. Northern’regions of Canada provide wildlife tours with aurora views as birds migrate back to this region for the season. The regions that give the best stage for the light show are:
- Yellowknife: Being the capital of Canada’s Northwest Regions, it is one of the best cities for its ideal climatic conditions for Aurora. The prime aurora observing season happens to be between August and October, with peak time between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
- Churchill, Manitoba: This place is also regarded as the polar bear capital; it is one of the world’s best locations for the Northern Lights experience. Its location being directly under the auroral oval implies that it regularly encounters dynamic, colorful shows. From late August until April, the light show continues, with January until March being the best months.
- Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories: Being flat and treeless offers an uninterrupted view of dancing lights. This remote village is considered Canada’s Northern Lights capital, with events happening around 300 nights annually.
Aurora Australis
Coming to the Southern Lights, even if they can be spotted throughout the year, most commonly they can be sighted during the winter months (May to August) and during the spring equinox.
Below are the countries that give the atmosphere closest to what is expected for the light show:
1) Tasmania, Australia:
For best possible glimpse of Southern Lights, you have to be near south as much as possible which means Tasmania.
- Bruny Island: This place is a paradise of wildlife, having wedge-tailed eagles and white wallabies, stunning beaches, and being free from light and city pollution (which are two of the biggest hindrances to seeing the lights). Climb the stairs at the neck and point your camera southwards; dancing lights can be spotted from there.
- Cradle Mountain, Lake St. Clair National Park: Bestowed with mirrored, still rivers, is a great boon for viewing the Southern Lights. Regarded as Australia’s most beautiful forests, the best spot is near the still waters of Cradle or Dove Lake.
- Bathurst Harbour: If you are a beach lover, then this place is for you. With a combo of both beach and Southern Lights views, along with stars, the light reflection in those waters can be a lively experience. Settle down on Camp’s private beach and get ready to create a mesmerizing memory with those dancing lights.
- South Arm Peninsula: Being away from the city lights makes it an ideal place for light sightings. Blessed with excellent and clear beaches such as Hope Beach and South Arm Beach, it provides a breathtaking panorama with sand dunes for miles.
- Central Highlands: The “Land of a Thousand Lakes” in Tasmania’s Central Highlands is characterized by flat, expansive plains and thousands of lakes carved out by glacial movement over millions of years. Just like Cradle, its unobstructed horizon views make this an ideal place for viewing the Southern Lights.
2) New Zealand
- Stewart Island: More than 80% of the island is recognized as protected ‘Rakiura National Park’. Rakiura means ‘glowing skies’ in Maori, indicating the presence of the Southern Lights, for which the island is known. It is also a birder’s paradise—a heaven for both seabirds and terrestrial birds.
- Queeenstown: Many head to this place for sports or other adventures, but it’s also a prime destination for the Lights show.
3) Antarctica
Just as the Northern Lights is clearly visible in the Arctic Circle, the same goes for Southern Lights in the Antarctic. Antarctic expedition can give you a vibrant memory with twinkling night added with flamboyant curtains spread in the sky. Antarctica being rich for its natural landscapes embellished with glaciers and Icebergs adds a lot of value to the scenery.
South Georgia Islands: Being one of the southern-most place, with almost zero obstructions, the Lights displays themselves with fluorescent colours along with glittery stars complementing the skyscape. Lights starts to appear as early as March, but best time to visit will be from June till September.
4) Patagonia, Chile:
Being the southernmost tip of South America, Southern Lights sightings are highly possible. May and July months are the best visit times since there are higher chances of catching the lights.
So, these are places you can plan to visit and wish to flex about having seen the heavenly lights. Please let us know which is your favorite place and is first on your bucket list for a visit.
References:
- https://www.holidify.com/pages/best-places-to-see-the-northern-lights-4783.html
- https://www.best-served.co.uk/blog/where-to-see-the-northern-lights-2015-2016
- https://www.nordicvisitor.com/blog/ice-hotel-nordic-guide/
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/sandramacgregor/2023/11/09/top-4-places-to-see-swedens-dazzling-northern-lights/
- https://www.greenland-travel.com/trips/with-northern-lights-on-the-starboard-side-in-greenland/
- https://tasermiutgreenland.com/package/greenland-northern-lights/
- https://en.visitsvalbard.com/inspiration/various/10-things-about-the-northern-lights#:~:text=During%20the%20darkest%20time%20of,as%20%E2%80%9Cdaytime%20Northern%20Lights%E2%80%9D.
- https://www.thrillophilia.com/northern-lights-in-sweden#:~:text=Northern%20lights%20in%20Sweden%20are%20especially%20seen%20in%20the%20Aurora,%2C%20Lule%C3%A5%2C%20Porjus%20and%20T%C3%A4rend%C3%B6.
- https://northernlightscanada.com/explore/best-time-see-northern-lights