Searching for an over-the-top luxury ski chalet? Look at the poshest ski resorts in the Swiss and French Alps. In iconic resorts like Zermatt and Val d’Isère, you can find rarefied accommodations closer to contemporary winter palaces than ski houses, with dramatic views and amenities aimed at billionaires or would-be billionaires.
Top 4 Places To See Sweden’s Dazzling Northern Lights
09.11.2023 - 11:47 / forbes.com
To witness the Northern Lights in all their glory, head to northern Sweden between early September and late March. The Aurora Borealis, a breathtaking natural phenomenon that looks like a wavy meteor shower, graces the skies. The show begins around Kiruna in early September, with vibrant streaks of pink, green, and purple dancing high above. As winter sets in, usually by January, you can catch these mesmerizing lights across a significant part of this region (especially Swedish Lapland – a vast region in the north that encompasses nearly a quarter of the country). The spectacle lasts until late March or early April.
Visitors flock to experience the magic of the Northern Lights during the long winter nights in northern Sweden. For the best viewing experience, clear evenings between 6:00 pm and 2:00 am are ideal, with the most spectacular displays often occurring around 10:00-11:00 pm.
Even though northern Sweden in general – and Abisko in particular – is the best place to experience the Northern Lights, there are other places to take in the aurora borealis. In optimal conditions, it’s possible to see the Northern Lights all over Sweden, all the way down to Skåne's southern tip. And if you're planning a trip within the next few years, you're in luck because it will be the peak of a solar cycle, which increases the chances to see the Northern Lights. The ridge is forecast to occur in July 2025, and the Northern Light nights will grow in number until then.
What are the Northern Lights, and what causes them?
The Northern Lights are a unique natural phenomenon created when electrically charged particles from the sun collide in the Earth’s atmosphere. The color variation depends on the kind of gas particles involved. The result is a truly magical sight to behold as the vibrant colors snake across the night sky, dancing around as if moving to some unheard symphony.
Mystical explanations
The Latin name translates to ‘dawn of the north’, Aurora being the Roman goddess of the dawn. Steeped in myth and viewed in awe, these lights have captivated humanity for millennia.
The Sámi – the indigenous people of Sweden – believed the lights were the souls of the dead. You weren’t to dance, sing or whistle at them for fear they would feel disrespected and the lights would dip down and carry you off to the afterlife. The Vikings, on the other hand, thought that the Northern Lights were the Valkyries taking fallen soldiers to meet Odin, their chief god.
Here are 4 of the best places in Sweden to see the Northern Lights
Kiruna
Kiruna, the northernmost city in Sweden has a population of approximately 17,000 and serves as an excellent starting point for your exploration of the country's vast northern expanse. Traveling
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