Northern Lights in Norway
The northern lights, also called aurora borealis, are visible mainly between October and March, with peak visibility from December to February.
Norway is among the best places in the Northern Hemisphere to witness this natural phenomenon due to the longer winter nights and proximity to the Arctic Circle. Over the ages, the northern lights have held a special place in Nordic culture and folklore, and their beauty and mystery continue to amaze all who witness them.
These celestial wonders result from solar winds carrying large amounts of charged particles into space. When these particles meet the Earth’s magnetic shield they are drawn into the upper layers of the atmosphere towards the poles where they then collide with atoms. This collision creates a release of energy, which emits a luminous arch of light. Generally, the more intense the solar activity, the brighter the light will be. And though most auroras are greenish-yellow, the colours vary depending on the types of atoms involved, the altitude, and the force of the particles entering the atmosphere. With so many factors at play, each display is unique and unpredictable!
In this video from Visit Norway, David Spinx is hunting for the Northern lights with the Sami in Northern Norway.
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