Northern lights
- a colourful and sparkling natural phenomenon.
This mythical, almost magical, light is a fantastic experience! Green, blue, purple and red explode in a spectacle of colours like veils draping the heavens. What are we actually seeing?
Charged particles, plasma, thrown out into space from the sun. It is called solar wind. The solar wind collides with atoms in the earth’s atmosphere. Most of the solar wind hits the atmosphere at the poles, as it follows the earth’s magnetic fi eld. Energy is then released in the form
of light, namely polar light.
Kiruna’s proximity to the North Pole makes it an ideal place for northern lights. In fact, it means that we have northern lights all the year round, day and night, whatever the temperature and weather. It may be, however, that it is not visible from just where you are because it is too light, e.g., in the middle of the day or in the summer (then we have midnight sun) or because it is overcast with lots of clouds in the way.
To experience this light phenomenon and get away from the city lights, join us by dog team, snowmobile or horse for a tour with a difference
out into the wilderness.
A new option is to visit the Aurora Sky Station located at the top of Mount Nuolja in the little mountain village of Abisko, approx 93 km
north-west of Kiruna. Take the cableway that runs up to Aurora Sky Station several nights a week, and learn more about the northern lights
and enjoy the amazing views.
No two northern lights are the same, and who knows, if you listen very carefully you may hear a crackle!
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