Tourism| Travels : If you’re planning your travels for the year, make sure to add chasing the northern lights to this bucket list. According to experts, 2024-2025 will be a spectacular year to spot the Aurora Borealis, thanks to the amount of solar activity, making it the best year to witness the Aurora Borealis in the last two decades.
Every 11 years, the sun’s magnetic field completely flips
Here’s a little bit of a scientific explanation of why this year is the ideal time to seek the aurora. Every 11 years, the sun’s magnetic field completely flips and because of the increase in the sun’s activation, the number of sunspots has dramatically increased, especially when it comes to getting a stronger viewing of the beauty of the aurora.
Tromsø is one of the most unique places
Situated 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is one of the most unique places on Earth where it is known for experiencing midnight sun and polar nights. In fact, the midnight sun tends to last from the end of May through the end of June, where people can stay up all night and enjoy the city in the wee hours of the night. In winter, the city experiences polar night days where the sun gets blocked by the rest of the world. Chasing the northern lights is one of the most sought-after activities in the city, with September to April being the season when people flock in to witness the wonder in the sky.
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Fairbanks in Alaska is the place to consider going
If you’re doing a trip centering around the northern lights, Fairbanks in Alaska is the place to consider going. At 65 degrees north latitude, this city is renowned for providing an unforgettable experience when it comes to chasing aurora borealis. The University of Alaska in Fairbanks puts out a daily forecast for the aurora on its website for you to track. The “season time” is between August to April, and if the weather is clear and if you end up staying for over three nights, then there are high chances of you spotting the spectacular display of the aurora.
Yellowknife is the best place to view the northern lights in Canada
One of the reasons Yellowknife is the best place to view the northern lights in Canada is its proximity to the North Pole, which is only 1,904 miles away. It also helps that Yellowknife is light on pollution and has clear and open skies, so much so that you can spot the aurora for 240 nights in the year. But the best time to visit Canada for northern lights viewing is from September to March when there’s enough darkness at night time. Typically, the auroral activities tend to peak between 10 pm and 2 am so make sure you are up at night till late and bundled up.
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Sweden’s northernmost settlements
Abisko is a village in Sápmi (also known as Lapland) and is one of Sweden’s northernmost settlements, located about 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle. It is also one of the dream locations for aurora chasers. The Aurora Sky Station in Abisko National Park takes the seekers up in the chairlift to the observatory tower for a clear view of the northern lights. What makes this place a must-visit for aurora chasers is that Abisko is home to the “blue hole” phenomenon, which basically is a patch of sky that remains clear regardless of surrounding weather patterns and conditions, increasing the chances of aurora sightings.
sparsely populated city in Iceland
Westfjords is a sparsely populated city in Iceland with a total population of 7,115 (as of 2020). This less population works in their favour as it creates less amount of pollution, leaving the sky clear for better chances of viewing the northern lights. Thanks to its location, it is also known to have longer nights than other parts of the country, adding to the advantage if you’re specifically going to seek the aurora. Also, make note that Westfjords is one of the coldest areas at sea level in Iceland, because of the East Greenland Current.
(This report is taken from gqindia.com Dainik Hind Mitra is grateful for its content.)
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