These include the United States (Alaska, specifically), Canada, Iceland, Norway, Sweeden, Finland, and Greenland. The best places to see the northern lights are in the countries that are the furthest north. Best Places to go in the World for a Northern Lights Trip However, they can reach 30° latitude or further. This reaction occurs in the polar regions of the earth at an altitude of 40-400 miles from the earth in a zone called the “Auroral Oval.” These lights are most commonly seen between 60° and 75° latitude. Green occurs between 60 and 150 miles, and ruby red appears above. When they collide with nitrogen, pinks and purples are produced.Īltitude also affects the colors, and blues and reds generally occur up to 60 miles above the earth’s surface. When these solar particles collide with oxygen, red and green auroras are produced. The lights occur when charged particles emitted from the sun during a solar flare penetrate the earth’s magnetic shield and collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere. They are a naturally occurring phenomenon. These polar lights also happen in the southern hemisphere, where they are called aurora australis.
The northern lights, also called the aurora borealis, is a polar light that occurs in the northern hemisphere. The Best Months and Times for a Northern Lights Trip.Best Places to See the Northern Lights in the United States.Best Places to go in the World for a Northern Lights Trip.It would be sad if you have to watch the polar show from the inside because of the unbearable cold. Rely on synthetic, fleece, and wool materials.
What to wear?Ī general recommendation is to dress warmly and wear layers. With over 6 million ac (nearly 2.5 million ha) of wild nature, there are plenty of stunning views in the national park. The key benefits are low light pollution and picturesque landscape that includes Denali or Mount McKinley, the highest mountain peak in North America. Denali National Park is about a three hour drive south-west of Fairbanks. If you dislike the idea of the extreme north, national parks provide an alternative. Otherwise, you can opt for a tour package. You can get there by Alaska Airlines departing from Anchorage and arriving at the town's Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport. The northernmost town in the US is also home to the native Iñupiat Eskimo culture. The best choice is Barrow also called Utqiagvik. To maximize your chances of seeing celestial lights in all their beauty, go to the extreme north. If you're into more adventures, follow the road to Prudhoe Bay. The camp operates year-round and offers other services, including a cafe, tour options, fuel, and minor tire repairs. You can find overnight accommodations at the rustic Coldfoot Camp set on the edge of the Gates of the Arctic National Park, which is the northernmost national park in the US. The former gold-mining settlement on the famed Dalton Highway from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay nowadays serves as a truck stop. The area is also 20 mi away, but south-east of Fairbanks.Īt 67° N latitude and 60 mi (97 km) above the Arctic Circle, Coldfoot is the prime northern lights destination in the Alaskan Arctic. Also, visit Chena Lakes Recreation Area to look for vibrant green reflections in the water. The area is easily accessible, offers a solid view of the horizon, and has parking, which is also convenient. A good place to head to in the vicinity is Cleary Summit Aurora Viewing Area, situated about 20 mi (32 km) north-east of Fairbanks. Even though it's located just below the Arctic Circle, 180 mi (290 km) south to be more precise, the aurora borealis appears quite frequently there.
The most popular place for viewing the rare and spectacular phenomenon in Alaska is Fairbanks. Therefore, the remote inland Alaskan Arctic and extreme north work the best. The chances strengthen when going up the latitude. However, the number of displays there is dramatically fewer than in the north. The flickering lights can be spotted anywhere in the state, including its largest city of Anchorage and other places in the south. The best time to look for the shimmering lights is between midnight and 2 am. You can spot absolutely stunning aurora borealis displays in September or October, as well as March or April. So the season stretches from late August through to late April. Northern lights dance across the sky all year round, but we are able to see it only on a dark and clear night.
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