Aurora Borealis: Top 10 Viewing Places

On April 13th, it was predicted that New Jersey would had prime seat for Aurora Borealis. Me and my photographer friends got excited and decided to catch this incredible opportunity. I've always wanted to see Aurora Borealis. I've imagined seeing green and purple lights appear in the sky. I translated my imagination onto paper and created this color pencil drawing "Man at the South Pole".

 

 

We drove to Seven Lakes where it's far from the city. It was a pretty chilly night and to my surprise, any photographers were gathered there awaiting for Aurora Borealis. It was reported to be visible at 8 pm but there weren't anything in the sky until 9:30 pm. We had to head back since it was getting late. But I researched on places to see Aurora Borealis because I want to make a trip to there one day.

 

So here are the top 10 places to see it (Information found Fodor's Travel Intelligence):

1. Norway: The northern town of Tromsø teems with Aurora Borealis activity when those extended summer days are long gone. Its location above the Arctic Circle, and within the Northern Lights zone, makes it one of the top places to view shimmering green lights.
2. Sweden: The area around Abisko in Swedish Lapland is scientifically proven to be an ideal viewing spot due to a unique micro-climate. Close to Abisko National Park, the dark winter night is perfect for sky watching.
3. Finland: Head to Luosto in Northern Finland to the Aurora Chalet where, upon arrival, you’ll be handed an "Aurora Alarm" which beeps once Northern Lights appear. In the nearby town of Sodanklya, the Northern Lights Research Center relays your message via the hotel.
4. Iceland: Leave the bustling nightlife of the capital city and head out into the wide open plains of Þingvellir National Park—a UNESCO Heritage Site where the North American and Eurasian continental plates meet to cause a rift valley.
5. Alaska: Alaska’s location within "the zone" means you’re almost guaranteed to see spectacular light displays. Be sure to move further away from city lights of Fairbanks into the region’s vast wilderness areas of Denali and the Yukon Territory.
6. Canada: Areas around pristine Lake Superior in Ontario and Northern Canada’s tundra backcountry are prime viewing spots. Head to the town of Whitehorse within the Yukon Territory to best see the swirling lights.
7. Greenland: Greenland still remains a final frontier for the average traveler and from its interior ice remains optimal location, however more accessible areas south and east of Greenland provide just as good viewing opportunities.
8. Scotland: The British isles are known for stormy, foggy, and cloudy weather—far from ideal conditions for observing the sky, but on those rare occasions when thick cloud covers break momentarily during dark winter months, you’ve got a good chance of witnessing the display in parts of Scotland's north.
9. Russia: In Northern Russia, you’ve got a good chance of seeing Aurora Borealis. The Kola Peninsula’s proximity to the Northern Lights zone also makes it a key area and the town of Murmansk is a popular base . . . if you can handle the below freezing temperatures of a typical Siberian winter.
10. Denmark: North of Scotland between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic, the Faroe Island archipelago is mostly known for puffins and Viking folklore. While its stormy weather mimics that of the British Isles, visitors to this Denmark-owned province could also see the iridescent lights.

 

These places are listed in my travel list for the next 10 years.