Watching the northern light abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?

What is the northern lights?

• The northern lights, also known as aurora or polar lights, are a natural phenomenon best seen in northern Europe, Russia and Canada
• The northern lights occur when charged particles from the sun are guided by Earth’s magnetic field into the upper atmosphere near the poles

What is the southern lights?

• For its counterpart in the south, the southern lights (Aurora australis), good viewing locations are rarer. In winter, Antarctica is the best place, but because of the climate, you can't really go there.
• Therefore, the southernmost inhabited, approachable places to see the southern lights are Tasmania and the far south of New Zealand

When is the best time to see the northern lights?

• Because it never gets dark in the far north and deep south during the summer months, you can see the northern lights particularly well in winter and late fall.
• Aurora is difficult to predict and especially the most intense varieties with lots of action and various colors are rare.
• To increase your chances of seeing the northern lights, it is best to travel to places with few clouds (for example, the interior of Lapland)
• In tourist resorts, a few people often keep watch and then wake sleeping tourists as soon as the northern lights are visible.

Why should you go see the Northern Lights for yourself?

• Because of the many online photos with long shutter speeds, seeing the northern lights can turn out to be a deception.
• What you see in real life is usually a green glow that sometimes moves slightly.
• In contrast, the truly spectacular northern lights are an experience you absolutely cannot capture with a photograph.
• The colors purple, green and pink dance through the sky in all sorts of rapidly changing formations.
• If you want to see this during a week in Lapland, you'll need some luck.

Is a trip to the northern lights dangerous?

• The northern light itself is not dangerous.
• Because the best places to see the northern lights are often quite cold and snowy, hypothermia is a risk to consider.
• What some also need to watch out for are high expectations; as with most natural phenomena, reality can be quite different from that ultimate photo used by your hotel, travel agent or favorite influencer.