Aurora Borealis | Experience the northern lights

The northern lights are best experienced in the darkest possible environment. As far away as possible from the light pollution of human civilisation. Also, it helps to be in a landscape away from urban development. But it is possible to see the northern lights in the city center, when the conditions are right!

 

The northern lights don't appear every night, and when they do, they can be faint (or it could be too cloudy for them to be visible). But it doesn't have to be difficult to know when and where the northern lights will appear. There are several apps that can tell you when the chance of seeing the aurora is best, and we can recommend the Aurora Forecast app.

Learn more & download the app

Kåge harbor

Kåge harbor is easy to reach and the perfect location if you want to stay close to your car. Look out over the ocean and see the northern lights.

Bjuröklubb

You have good conditions for seeing the northern lights in Bjuröklubb since there is little light pollution. You'll get the best view, and it's easiest to reach, from the lighthouse.

Boviken beach

Boviken beach is easy to reach, and the perfect place if you don't want to walk far from your car. Look out over the ocean and see the northern lights.

The tower at the top of Vitbergets, Kalvträsk

Visit the tower on top of the mountain and see the northern lights with an incredible view of the surroundings.

Svansele Wilderness Camp

Visit the wilderness camp, which with its lack of outdoor lights (and thus no light pollution) provides good conditions for seeing the northern lights.

Kågnäsudden

Drive to Ursviken, in and past the go-kart track and Sillskatan. The easiest way is to park on a turnpike in the middle of the forest. Then walk about a kilometer through the forest to the coast.

About aurora borealis

Galileo Galilei gave the northern lights their latin name, Aurora Borealis. Aurora is the Roman goddess of dawn. Her siblings are Sol and Luna, the sun and the moon. The Greeks also considered Aurora to be the mother of Anemoi, the god of winds. Borealis comes from the greek word for a northern wind and can be traced to another god of antiquity, Borea. Borea is often associated with wild horses and a raging temper. In short, the natural carrier of a cold, northern wind.

 

In a sense it could be said that Galileo really hit the nail on the head when he named this beautiful light display after these two gods. Light and untamed force. The scientific explanation, however, is a different one entirely and not all that easy to explain. The lights are caused by particles from solar flares that are pulled in by the Earth’s magnetosphere. When these particles reach the atmosphere, they collide with atoms and molecules that  are “charged” or at least have their energy state altered.

 

Different types of atoms create different light. The most common type is green, caused by affected oxygen atoms at a height of approx. 100-140 kilometres. The red light is also related to oxygen but occurs at heights closer to 200 km, whilst violet and blue light comes from nitrogen ion reactions. 

 

The northern lights can be experienced from September (sometimes as early as August, when the autumn dark begins to fall), until April. There is an idea that cold temperatures are required, but that’s not really true. However, a clear, starry night sky is of course crucial. Today, there are several excellent northern lights services who produce forecasts, predicting the chances of seeing the lights, based on solar flare activity. Look up!