We flew back to Tromsø from Svalbard as we continue on our journey. We will be leaving the Arctic Circle soon, and the probability of encountering the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) quickly diminishes as we move southwards. The temperature outside remained cold with an occasional snow shower as the unforgiving weather attempted to dissuade us from stepping outdoors. The Aurora forecast from Alaska University predicted a slight chance of a solar shower tonight, which could result in the natural phenomenon that we called “Northern Lights”. After dinner, we packed our gear and ventured forth.
As recommended by the locals, we went in the direction of the lake Prestvannet. Armed with my GPS-enabled phone and a torch, we finally reached the lake after about half an hour from the city centre. We could not find any distinct path to the lake so we took to exploring the small roads surrounding the lake. Luckily, I spotted some fresh trails in the foot deep snow made by other earlier visitors. With nothing to lose, we followed them and found ourselves along the nature path surrounding the lake. There were some cross country skiers using the path too! We found ourselves a dark spot and enjoyed the best spectacle from nature that we had seen. With the sky as the canvas, the Aurora painted swirls of green that slowly danced in front of our eyes…
Travel tips on catching the Northern Lights in Tromsø:
1. Always check the Aurora Forecast first.
2. In Tromsø there are 2 ideal places to catch the Northern Lights. We caught ours at the lake Prestvannet. The other good place is the field on the mainland. To reach it, cross the bridge towards the cable car direction. After crossing, the field is on the left. In order to see the Northern Lights clearly, you need an area with almost no artificial light as the Northern Lights are very faint. Since the area is quite dark, pack a reliable torch that will work in very low temperatures!
3. Do you need to pay extremely high prices for one of those Northern Lights tour? In order for you to see the Northern Lights, there must first be a solar shower and secondly you need an unobstructed view of the skies, meaning a clear cloudless sky. Paying for a tour is NOT going to increase the chances of a solar shower but certain good tours will drive you as far as they can take you, letting you have your own piece of a clear cloudless sky.
4. The best way to experience the Northern Lights is to lie down as Joanna Lumley showed us. I totally agree but lying on the snow at very low subzero temperatures for long periods definitely has its consequences. Therefore pack an insulated waterproof mat to enhance your viewing experience!
The Magical Northern Lights
06 Jan 2011
We flew back to Tromsø from Svalbard as we continue on our journey. We will be leaving the Arctic Circle soon, and the probability of encountering the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) quickly diminishes as we move southwards. The temperature outside remained cold with an occasional snow shower as the unforgiving weather attempted to dissuade us from stepping outdoors. The Aurora forecast from Alaska University predicted a slight chance of a solar shower tonight, which could result in the natural phenomenon that we called “Northern Lights”. After dinner, we packed our gear and ventured forth.
As recommended by the locals, we went in the direction of the lake Prestvannet. Armed with my GPS-enabled phone and a torch, we finally reached the lake after about half an hour from the city centre. We could not find any distinct path to the lake so we took to exploring the small roads surrounding the lake. Luckily, I spotted some fresh trails in the foot deep snow made by other earlier visitors. With nothing to lose, we followed them and found ourselves along the nature path surrounding the lake. There were some cross country skiers using the path too! We found ourselves a dark spot and enjoyed the best spectacle from nature that we had seen. With the sky as the canvas, the Aurora painted swirls of green that slowly danced in front of our eyes…
Travel tips on catching the Northern Lights in Tromsø:
1. Always check the Aurora Forecast first.
2. In Tromsø there are 2 ideal places to catch the Northern Lights. We caught ours at the lake Prestvannet. The other good place is the field on the mainland. To reach it, cross the bridge towards the cable car direction. After crossing, the field is on the left. In order to see the Northern Lights clearly, you need an area with almost no artificial light as the Northern Lights are very faint. Since the area is quite dark, pack a reliable torch that will work in very low temperatures!
3. Do you need to pay extremely high prices for one of those Northern Lights tour? In order for you to see the Northern Lights, there must first be a solar shower and secondly you need an unobstructed view of the skies, meaning a clear cloudless sky. Paying for a tour is NOT going to increase the chances of a solar shower but certain good tours will drive you as far as they can take you, letting you have your own piece of a clear cloudless sky.
4. The best way to experience the Northern Lights is to lie down as Joanna Lumley showed us. I totally agree but lying on the snow at very low subzero temperatures for long periods definitely has its consequences. Therefore pack an insulated waterproof mat to enhance your viewing experience!
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