Northern Lights
CarouselPublished June 22, 2009 at 13:41 No CommentsThe Arctic is often associated with vast landscapes of ice, beautiful scenery and sub-zero temperatures; who would have thought that this seemingly remote destination could be home to one of nature’s most spectacular phenomenon, the Northern Lights.
The lights, also known as ‘Aurora Borealis’ are the work of “solar wind particles colliding with air molecules and transferring their energy into light”. As a result, a breath-taking show is performed, stretching right over the arctic and sub-arctic region. Depending on the conditions of the air, the lights can last for one or two minutes displaying a green-yellow tinge prancing about the sky in a magnificent curtain-effect, a multi-coloured array that can last for hours!
The Northern Lights have been known to stretch as far south as the UK, but the atmosphere and full extent of the light extravaganza is best experienced in the Arctic regions of Iceland, Greenland, Canada and Scandinavia. A clear, cloudless night sky is essential to render the lights visible, especially from November to February when daylight is but a glint of sunlight below the horizon.
This phenomenon is waited for in unbearable anticipation by tourists and received with awe-stricken appreciation for the wonders of Mother Nature. There are a few holiday destinations in which people journey to in hope of experiencing the Northern Lights, one of which is the village of Abisko in Sweden. This destination is home of the Abisko National Park, valued for the behaviour of its prevailing winds that prevent cloud formations. In addition to this, there is also the opportunity to stay at the IceHotel… and yes, it is exactly what it sounds like! It is a man-made structure completely constructed out of ice with the chance to spend a night in the snow room and chill out in the ice bar!
Although there may be a few natural occurrences in the world, you have to admit that the Northern Lights are definitely in a league of their own. They allow us to experience a mind blowing adventure you would never forget.
Rachel Martin
