Northern Lights – Waiting for the Fox's Run
How do the Northern Lights come about? Sami legend says the fox runs across the night sky, lighting it up with sparks flying from its tail that sweeps the heavens. The modern Finnish term "revontulet", the fires of the fox, derives from this myth.
Despite their reputation of elusiveness, the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) appear on 200 nights a year in Finnish Lapland. Seeing them requires sufficient darkness and clear skies, which makes late autumn, the winter and early spring (September to March) the most favourable times for catching them.
The further north you go, the greater the chances of catching the Northern Lights. Saariselkä, Kilpisjärvi and Inari along with the rest of Northern Lapland are recommendable places in Finland. In Helsinki and the south, the aurorae can be seen on roughly 20 nights a year, away from city lights.
The best time of day is an hour or two before and after midnight.
"I was promised the Northern Lights, now where are they?"
Finnish travel professionals are doing their best to let visitors know of any increased auroral activity. Northern Lights alerts, aurora safaris, glass igloos for viewing and even a special ride on a bus with a panoramic skylight are available throughout the season.
Even with today's technical equipment, the Lights' appearance can never be forecast with certainty. They are a phenomenon that cannot be packaged and sold, which makes each spotting special. They appear for you; right then, and right there. The display might last 20 seconds or an hour. The Sun and the Earth are the conductors of the show, and each performance is unique. The fox moves in mysterious ways.
Scientists: The future looks bright
A scientist's explanation to the phenomenon would be something like "the solar wind sends charged particles towards the Earth, and upon colliding with its atmosphere they produce energy given off as light." Some scientists predict a massive solar storm during 2012, which is expected to set off the Northern Lights in rare magnitude. Expect a lot of foxes running the skies in the coming two winters.
Kakslauttanen Panorama Bus
Kakslauttanen Accommodation Iglus
Auroras Now!
Finnish Meteorological Institute
Destination 360
ThisisFinland
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Unbelievable Northern Lights in Lapland Finland.
Watch an amazing video of beautiful Aurora Borealis shot in Finnish Lapland in winter 2011!
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