subject: How An Aurora Borealis Is Formed And How To View Them Best In Iceland [print this page] Iceland is one of the few places on Earth where people have little interest on the moonlight during northern lights' hunting season, as the skies need to be dark to get the best view of the spectacle. It is located within the auroral zone, specifically the Arctic Circle region, where the aurora frequents its visit.
Sun storm is where the entire magical phenomenon begins. Charged particles are being thrown out by the sun to the outer space and attracted by the North and South Poles' magnetic fields. Upon entering the Earth, these solar particles are filtered by the atmosphere. The appearance of luminous colors in the sky is the result of the chemical reaction between the gases in the atmosphere and the electrical charge of North and South Poles' magnetic fields.
Color combinations may vary depending on the concentration of gases. The most common color is green. Other colors like blue, violet, red, and purple can also be seen. Seeing an aurora in action would make you feel you're like floating in outer space.
The aurora seems like an occasional decoration in the sky like how a beautiful curtain is hung during special occasions. Auroral formations vary from spiral, vertical, horizontal, etc. No one can actually predict the auroral formation. This surprise element adds to its value even more.
Travelers wishing to see the northern lights always have either a digital camera or video recorder handy to capture this elusive phenomenon. Iceland has some designated viewing locations to best view the aurora. The twinkling stars are added bonus and can also enhance your northern lights' experience.
Boating on a lake or river is also advisable while waiting for the northern lights to appear. Travelers who have done this have had maximum viewing pleasure when they saw the remarkable colors reflected on the waters.
Bus tours can be arranged from Reykjavik to the countryside where the best views of the northern lights are possible. The locals in Iceland seem to be a reliable source of information and have a considerably high level of accuracy in anticipating the appearance of the aurora borealis through their years of experience hunting this ever-elusive wonder of nature.
The weather conditions play a substantial role in your viewing success of the northern lights. These weather conditions are beyond human control. It is advisable to plan an alternative activity just in case your aurora hunting is delayed due to bad weather.
