THE BACK PAGE BUCKET LIST
#08 WSP Finland / Annukka Larsen
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“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” Leonard Cohen
What: Sleeping under the Northern Lights. Where: Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis is a phenomenon visible in the night sky near the Earth’s magnetic poles. Finland and other Nordic countries are great places to go hunting for the light show. Booking a glass igloo for the night will make the observation more comfortable. How: It all begins with an explosion in the sun. As a result of that the solar wind blows particles to Earth. These charged particles become trapped in Earth’s magnetic field and get transformed into this visible phenomenon. Green is the most common light colour to see, and sometimes blue, purple and red colours also occur. When: March and September are the best times for viewing the natural light show. Check the aurora activity forecast and try to avoid the time of the full moon. Snow and light pollution will diminish the experience. Why: When nature offers you a light show comparable to the net capacity of dozens of nuclear stations, it is a moment of magic. Picture © Juuso Hämäläinen
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