There are roughly two main reasons for people to visit Rovaniemi in darker period of the year: 1) Santa Claus and the spirit of Christmas and 2) the northern lights (aurora borealis). Santa you can see every day of the year, northern ligths are little bit trickier. What are these magical and mysterious lights and how you can experience them in Rovaniemi?
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| Photo by Simo Vilhunen/Simo Vilhunen Creative |
The northern lights are actually collisions between
electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth's atmosphere.
The lights are seen above the magnetic poles of both northern and southern
hemispheres about 100-200 kilometers above the surface of the Earth.
Lights appear in many colours although pale green and light
red are the most common ones. Forms of the ligths can vary from scattered
clouds of light to streamers, arcs, rippling curtains or shooting rays that
light up the sky.
When and where to catch them?
You could think that the closer the pole you are the better
are your chances to see the northern lights. There are though couple of other
basic rules to remember when planning your aurora hunting trip. To begin with,
you need a dark sky. During the winter season (from November to March) the
daylight conditions in Lapland and Rovaniemi are quite ideal. During spring and
summer time (from April until August) the night is very short or there are no
dark hours at all. Best aurora months are also the colder ones.
Secondly, you need a clear sky. In the northen part of
Lapland (for e.g. Kilpisjärvi or Utsjoki) auroras appear almost 75 per cent of
the nights, but you won’t see them if the sky is covered with clouds or mist.
Some areas ”collect” more clouds than others and some months are more cloudy
than others. In Finland November is the most challenging month of winter period
when it comes to clear skyes. Then again there has been excellent aurora nights
also in early winter, and the weather conditions can change quite rapidly from
cloudy to half cloudy or even clear.
The most ideal place to see northern lights is open and far
away from artificial lighting (a field, a frozen lake). Sometimes northern
lights are very pale, and it helps if you let your eyes get used to the
darkness for a while. Stronger auroras you can observe also in the middle of
the city center, especially if you are not right under or next to a light source.
Always remember to dress warmly, even if there were no minus
celsius degrees. If you take part in an aurora safari trip, the organizing
company usually offers you all the supplies you need, including the warm outdoor
clothing.
Top tips to see
auroras in Rovaniemi and surroundings
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| Photo by Simo Vilhunen/Simo Vilhunen Creative |
1. Take part in organized aurora tours. Local safari
companies are experts when it comes to hunting auroras, and even if you are not
lucky this time, the experience will be rememorable. There are several ways to
experience the dark night and aurora hunt in a safari: with snowmobile, dog
sledge, snow shoes or just by walking in the wilderness. Check at least these
companies: Lapland Safaris, Lapland Welcome, Safartica and Santa’s Adventure.
More complete list you can find from www.visitrovaniemi.fi.
2. Spend a night in a glass igloo. Arctic SnowHotel in the outskirts
of Rovaniemi offers the most cosiest way to experience auroras from the comfort
of your own bed. The hotel has also a Aurora Alarm service so you won’t miss
the show. More details: www.arcticsnowhotel.fi.
3. Combine sauna and auroras. To ensure the best location
for your aurora hunt you need an open and dark area. And what if there could
also be a warm sauna just next to your viewing place? Finnish Sauna by the Lake
offers you beautiful surroundings just 20 minutes from the city center. More
details also from www.guesthouseborealis.com.
4. Aurora hunt in the city. You can also try to see the
lights inside the city area. Locals suggest places like the riverbank behind
Arktikum house or the top of the Ounasvaara hill. You can take your city map
and ask guidance from the hostel/hotel reception: look for open areas like football
or ice skating fields. Locals also recommend top of Ounasvaara hill for watching the
auroras. It is quite easy to access and there is also a restaurant if you want
to combine Lappish food experience and aurora hunting.
