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Northern Lights In Norway: Tips for Observing the Beautiful Phenomenon

 

Northern lights, which are often referred to as aurora borealis, appear to be a natural light display that can be observed mostly in the Antarctic and Arctic regions. Norway is one of the countries with myriads of places for a comfortable observation of this captivating phenomenon. This article provides insight into the northern lights in Norway, offering some useful recommendations for the best experience of observing aurora. Enjoy!

 

Northern Lights In Norway: Best Observation Spots

If it happened to you to visit Norway in winter, going to observe the aurora borealis is one of the top things to do for sure. Thankfully, Norway features myriads of beautiful places where you can experience your first northern lights in Norway. This section of our article explores the most popular places for observing aurora – so, get ready to go if you are strong enough to withstand cold and strong wind!

 

Northern lights in Lofoten

 

Tromsø. This city appears to be one of the largest in Norway, but is also often referred to as the capital of the Arctic. Surrounded by fjords, mountains, and islands, this beautiful city appears to be one of the best ones in the world for observing aurora. Indeed, good aurora displays may be spotted even in the center of this beautiful city, yet it would be better to head to the tranquilizing beaches of the Kvaløya island or reach the Prestvannet lake on the island of Tromsøya.

The Lofoten Islands. Known for their authentic and well-preserved nature as well as wonderful sports and fishing opportunities, the Lofoten Islands are a good spot for observing aurora. However, you must be aware that, apart from beautiful views, you are likely to face freezing cold, strong winds, and problems with transportation.

Kirkenes. This small town is often referred to as the gateway to the east of Norway. Yet, it can boast to have a pretty good infrastructure and wonderful opportunities for observing aurora borealis. In regard to nature, you will find everything you need here: lakes, forests, fjords, and mountains. People in this region typically speak a variety of languages, including Norwegian, Finnish, Russian, and Sami.

Narvik. Located on the Lofoten Islands, this town draws lots of tourists thanks to not only great views of the aurora but also to be one of the best spots for extreme sports (alpine skiing and snowboarding). The sky appears to be clear pretty often, which creates great opportunities for observing the northern lights in Norway.

Harstad. Harstad is also located not far from the Lofoten but also can boast a rich array of nature- and culture-based experiences. Also, you can resort to fishing or skiing in this area as well.

Andøya. Located right near Harstad and the Lofoten, this island is a perfect place for mountain hiking, searching for fossils, bird watching, going on a whale safari, or fishing. But indeed, this place is also pretty good for observing the northern lights!

 

Northern Lights in Tromso

Northern Lights In Norway: Advice to Take Into Account

Whenever you think about going to observe the northern lights in Norway, you should be aware of the numerous difficulties you might face there. Here, we have prepared a couple of recommendations that you may find useful for your future journey:

  • In order to get the highest possibility of the northern lights appearing, use the service of Aurora Forecast.
  • You should keep in mind that there are only a few months in a year that are especially suitable for observing aurora borealis, namely: February-March and September-October. During the winter season, you may face difficulties in observing aurora due to the clouds. During the summer season, however, you are likely to lack the darkness at night, so aurora borealis (which appears all year round) will be unseen. March is considered among the best months for observing the northern lights.
  • In order to shoot a photo or video and catch aurora borealis, you should select a low aperture and a long speed of shutter.
  • If you decided to use a smartphone or cheap cameras for catching the northern lights, you may try doing so in fireworks mode. However, the quality is unlike to be that good.
  • Clothing is an important matter when it comes to observing the northern lights, and here you have got the most recommended items of clothing: opt for many layers of thin clothes with at least one item made of wool, a thick coat for the winter season, very warm socks along with winter boots, hat, and gloves. Don’t think about fashion in this case.

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