Aurora Borealis in the Wild

There are few phenomena more universally fascinating than the aurora borealis and our lodges, bordering the Arctic circle, are ideally situated for witnessing this spectacle.

The Greek word “aurora” derives itself from Greek mythology, meaning “goddess of the dawn” and “boreas” means “wind” (Zone). What can be explained by science is difficult to comprehend, when you lay beneath a stream of colours, licking, twisting and swirling their way across the sky. The aurora borealis keep you in a state of awe as they swell and surges with shades of green, red and purple, often so bright they light up the snow.

Although seemingly celestial, sunspots explain the science behind the phenomenon of the northern lights. When bursts of gasses release from the sun, the energy is carried across space on the solar wind. As the ions glaze over the atmosphere at our magnetic poles, they interact with the oxygen and nitrogen gases in the air, causing the northern lights to form.

The different gases and altitudes create an array of colours across the sky. Oxygen creates red and green, which you see most commonly in the aurora borealis with the naked eye, while nitrogen allows for the pinks and purples to show.

Our location beneath the auroral oval in the pristine heart of northern Canada, far from light pollution, means we’re ideally located for those who love to watch the lights dance across the sky.

With approximately 300 nights a year of aurora activity, it’s possible, given the right conditions, to see the northern lights while on any of our safaris.

Aurora over Seal River Heritage Lodge, Robert Postma photo.

Best time to see Northern Lights

While the winter months are thought of as the traditional time to view the northern lights, they can also be spectacular on a clear summer or fall night. Plus, it’s a lot more fun working with cameras in the warmer months at 10° C instead of -40° C!

Your best chances of seeing the northern lights on one of our safaris will occur from September to November.

Whichever safari you decide on, you can rest assured that our staff will monitor the skies at night and wake you up when the lights make an appearance, so you won’t miss out on the spectacle of a lifetime.