寰宇遨遊

In ancient Rome, quot;auroraquot; was the name of the goddess of dawn. This makes witnessing the aurora borealis seem like an encounter with the goddess herself. The Northern Lights are actually an irregularly shaped oval centred over the magnetic pole. They are caused by collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth's atmosphere.

Like a god-sent gift, suddenly, the aurora lights up the darkness above you. The cold and chilly night also seems to wake up with this magical green beam, which appears as a sickle and soon transforms into rippling curtains, spreading towards the North Star.

Throughout the year, the phenomenon occurs near the magnetic poles. However, they are not noticeable with the naked eye during summer. The best time to watch them is between September and the following April. The long periods of darkness and the frequency of clear nights provide many good opportunities to watch the auroral displays.Researchers have discovered that auroral activity is cyclic, peaking roughly every 11 years. These years happen to be the peak time for solar activity, which means travelers now have a greater chance to see the aurora.

The best places to watch the lights are in the northwestern parts of Canada, the southern tip of Greenland and Iceland, the northern coast of Norway and over the coastal waters north of Siberia.

[Norway]

Midnight Concert

Tromso, gateway city of Norway, is ideal for viewing auroras. Located at a longitude of 69°, Tromso is also called quot;the gateway to the arcticquot;. Affected by the Gulfstream, Tromso has a relatively warm winter,and usually has fi ne weather. It is a perfect place to spend a winter's night, when the Northern Lights dance to the local songs played in the churches in Tromso.

Adventuring on a Sled

Kirkenes is further north than Tromso, and also shares a comparatively warm climate. Close to the Russian border, this small town is the terminal port of Norwegian steamboats. Here, you can not only see the aurora, but also engage in various kinds of outdoor activities such as catching king crabs,exploring the sceneries sitting on a reindeer-pulled sleigh or a dogsled. You can also have an authentic arctic meal in a tent with the Sami people.

Several companies run night dog-sledding and snowmobile trips that take you through the surrounding wilderness for sky-watching.

Cruising

It is a fi rst-class experience to appreciate the aurora on a cruise. When the cruise ship slides into the darkness, you feel connected to the universe more than ever. It is so quiet that the only sound you hear is the sound of the crashing waves and the mysterious noise made by the Northern Lights above.

The cruise quot;Hurtigrutenquot; dispatches every day from the west coast of Norway. Twenty two out of the 34 ports of call are inside the Arctic Circle, which guarantees you a terrifi c opportunity to have a full taste of the North Pole. When the aurora appears,the ship's crew invite passengers to go to the deck.You can set up a tripod in advance, then wait for the wonder to appear while enjoying a cup of freshmade Norwegian coffee, or you can sip a glass of champagne while you lay in a jacuzzi.

[挪威]

午夜音乐

挪威北部的门户城市特罗姆瑟是欣赏北极光的最佳地之一。由于处在北纬69°，它又被称为“北极之门”，但因为受到墨西哥暖流的影响，这里的冬天并不像人们想象中的那么冷，经常会有晴朗的好天气。当北极光翩翩起舞，特罗姆瑟的教堂也奏起动人的当地民谣，唱响午夜的音乐会，为北极光伴奏。

雪橇奇遇

更北一些的小镇希尔克内斯也有着较为温暖的气候。这座小镇邻近俄罗斯边境，是挪威沿海汽船的终点港口。这里的冬季不仅能看到北极光，还可以进行各种冬季户外活动，比如捕捞帝王蟹、驯鹿雪橇、乘坐狗拉雪橇或雪地摩托来追逐极光，或是在帐篷里与萨米人共享北极特色晚餐等，娱乐方式非常丰富。

海上巡游

乘坐游轮欣赏极光也是一流的享受。当游轮缓行在漆黑中，你仿佛融入了天地，沉静的海上只有浪花与极光嘶梭的声音。巡游在挪威西海岸的海达路德游轮每天发船，全线停靠的34个港口中有22个位于北极圈内，为你提供了绝妙的观赏机会。当海上极光出现，船方会进行广播，邀请你到甲板欣赏奇观。你也可以提前在甲板支上三脚架，手捧一杯热腾腾的挪威咖啡等待极光降临；或是在船上的按摩浴缸中品着香槟，看极光布满夜空。

[Canada]

Reflections on the Lake

Yellowknife, capital of northwest Canada, is the only district in the world in which the Northern Lights occur more than 250 times a year. It was evaluated by NASA as the best place to catch the lights in the world.

The best place to watch aurora in Yellowknife in November is at the Great Slave Lake. Before the lake is totally frozen, you get to see the rarest aurora show of the year, when the half frozen lake refl ects the dancing Northern Lights. Many photographers are willing to spend some time in Yellowknife just to catch this precious moment.

The Great Slave Lake is the second largest lake in Canada after the Great Bear Lake, and it is the source of MacKenzie River - the longest river in Canada.Travelers can also rent a boat here and fi sh in summer;even a fresh-hand can catch big and delicious fi sh such as pikes and the polar trout. It is an unforgettable experience to angle leisurely in the romantic sunset glow at 2 a.m. during the polar days.

[加拿大]

湖泊倒影

加拿大西北地区的首府耶洛奈夫是世界上唯一每年可以观测极光次数超过250次的地区，它曾被NASA评为全球最适合欣赏北极光的地方。

在11月期间，来耶洛奈夫欣赏极光，最棒的地方是在大奴湖，趁湖水还未完全冻结，拍摄湖面上反射出舞动着的极光，是一年当中最难得的曼妙场面。……