The Northern Lights, also termed as Aurora Borealis, are a natural light show in the sky which takes place usually at night in the Polar Regions. It is one of the most impressive demonstrations on the earth. It can normally be seen in Iceland from September through March at night. The display occurs quite high above the surface of the earth, at a height of 100-250 km from the surface. This is the outcome of electrically charged particles that make the thin air gleam. The Northern Lights can be seen in aurora belts that develop 20-25 degrees around the geomagnetic ends; the north and the south.
The title“Northern Lights” was first recorded in the original Old Norse, as “norðrljós” in 1230 whereas, the name “Aurora Borealis” is mutually credited to have first been used by Galileo Galilei and Petrus Gassendus in the 17th century. The Aurora means the Roman goddess of Dawn, and Boreas stands for the Greek god of the North Wind. Hence, together the name suggests some of the magnificent glory of an aurora display.
The Aurora Borealis is caused mainly as an effect of solar wind particles and ions, which move away from the sun headed for the earth. As the wind particles and ions collide with the atmospheric particles and ions while reaching the earth’s upper atmosphere, a bizarre display of light and colors flows in the night sky like a glow, burn or shade effect.
Generally, the Northern Lights are a deviation of different colors such as Green, Red, Purple, Pink, Yellow, and Blue. However, the color green is the most often occurring one. The most appropriate time of year to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is between the months of September and March.
In order to witness the northern lights in the most appropriate manner, the sky should be crisp and clear and the outer temperature should be cold instead of dry. Moreover, a strong solar wind is also required in order to complete the scientific process where the wind articles collide in the upper atmosphere. There should be no artificial light in order to visit the display in the most natural manner. Controlling and following all the above-mentioned things, a visitor will certainly experience the spectacular view of Northern Lights.
The most appropriate place in Iceland to experience the Northern Lights is to reach just near the Reykjavik area. However, it is recommended to travel a bit outside of the city and suburban area for a more rigorous demonstration.
The visitors can even take photographs of the Northern Lights to record and preserve their experience of this amazing sensation. Hence, it is experiencing one of the wonders of the world that include the enormously beautiful display. The Northern Lights is one of the attractive phenomena for tourists due to its location and graceful display of colors.
