Updated : Oct 17, 2022, 17:08 IST
If you wish to witness the magic created by nature, Northern Lights would do the trick! This phenomenal natural occurrence is also known as the Aurora Borealis and seeing it in its full glory is an experience of a lifetime. Well, we might be in love with looking at these pretty lights, but how many of you are actually aware of why, how, when and where of the Northern Lights?
On that note, let’s have a look at some interesting facts about the Northern Lights that will leave you wondering!
The Northern Lights are dancing waves of light that have captivated the imagination of people since time immemorial. As far as scientific explanation is concerned, it’s rather a violent event< wherein the energised particles from the sun slam into earth’s upper atmosphere at a super duper high speed. However, earth’s magnetic field is strong enough to protect us from this invasion.
Our planet then redirects these particles toward the poles that turn into these dramatic, cinematic atmospheric phenomena.
Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, is one of the best spots in the world to witness this magic. Norway’s Svalbard is also popular for the Northern Lights viewing as the city is set deep into the Arctic Circle. The place attracts visitors during the months of November and February as chances of spotting the beautiful Aurora Borealis is high during this time.
Canada, Greenland, Finland and Alaska are some of the other places where one can experience these colourful lights.
Yes, these spectacular dancing waves are clearly visible from space. Satellites have taken pictures of the aurora and the images are pretty striking.
A German physicist and astronomer Otto Rudolf Martin Brendel is credited for taking the first ever photograph of the Northern Lights. He took the picture on January 5, 1892 , and that black-and-white picture was published in a magazine in October 1897.
The ancient people thought that the Northern Lights were fire and, for over thousands of years, humans were clueless as to what exactly these dancing lights are.
As per Roman mythology, Aurora was the Goddess of the Dawn and Borealis is a Greek word for wind. Combined, they become aurora borealis, meaning dawn wind, also known as the Northern Lights. For years unknown, these colourful lights have intrigued humans and the fascination seems to be never ending. Being one of the prime attractions of the Arctic, the Northern Lights attract magic seekers and wanderers from across the globe.
According to a Norse legend, these lights are the reflections from the shield and armour of the Valkyries, the female warriors who choose which of the fallen would get entry to Valhalla (a majestic hall in Asgard and presided over by the god Odin).
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If you wish to witness the magic created by nature, Northern Lights would do the trick! This phenomenal natural occurrence is also known as the Aurora Borealis and seeing it in its full glory is an ex…