The Beautiful Northern Lights
Jan 27th, 2012 by admin in United States
Many questions have frequently been asked on “What are the Northern Lights?” This spectacular array of lights occurs when gas is produced by the solar activity that takes place on the sun’s surface. Aurora Borealis is the name given to the intense reaction of this gas on the magnetic field of the earth which produces frissons of color during this time.
This naturally occurring phenomenon occurs during the months of September right up to March when the weather is colder. It is quite impossible to view the beautiful display of colors in the summer months as the daylight is longest in Iceland at this time.
One can view this magnificent view of the Aurora Oval of Iceland, passing over the observer around midnight, which is really the best time.
If you plan to take a holiday to observe this magnificent spectacle in Iceland, it is necessary to stay in a area that is not polluted by any form of light. The ideal place therefore would be to move out of the large towns and cities and enter the natural wilderness of Iceland. From the centre of Reykjavik town, tourists can drive up to the four stars Hotel Ranga that takes about an hour. The hotel manager is an expert guide who had years of experience on the subject and conducts tours to see the Aurora Borealis. The view of the Aurora Borealis from this vantage point is spectacular as it offers aerial settings that are 360 degree and stunning mountain backdrops.
The displays of Aurora Borealis do not last for more than a couple of minutes and generally occurs at night typically. Sometimes, however, the large displays have lasted for nearly three hours though this is quite rare. It is said that when these displays occur, the energy product is equivalent to that of a mini nuclear explosion.
Several myths and folklore have woven around the Aurora Borealis of Iceland. Your guide will probably regale you with some of them during your tour of the Northern lights. You can read about the Aurora in the Old Testament and it also features quite prominently in Norse and Inuit mythology. The people of Iceland believe that pregnant women should not gaze at the Aurora because they could end up bearing children who could be cross-eyed.
The colors that emanate from the Aurora Borealis in Iceland respond to the various gases that are in the ionosphere. Red and green light are produced from oxygen atoms and violet light is the result of nitrogen molecules. While the different colors produced depend on the levels where the gases are produced in the ionosphere, the common color generally noticed is green.
The best time to view the Aurora Borealis is in the middle of winter when it is extremely cold due to the geographical location far north. At this point, it does not matter if it is 40 degree Fahrenheit or Celsius as the temperature is pretty much equal. It is vital that one is clothed in very warm clothing that is available on hire. Be aware though that you may experience the bitter cold if you are not dressed warmly and wait to hire warm clothing, especially when you are changing the mode of transport at any given point.
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