You can see Northern Lights at Lapland in purple and red tones as well as being predominantly green. Red is the least common genus. I will share my Lapland trip memories and what I have learned with you in detail so that you can go there. When should we go to see the Northern Lights, what should we take with us, what should we pay attention to? Here’s everything you want to know about the Northern Lights…
How to get to Lapland?
There are a lot of direct flights to Finland’s capital city Helsinki. From there we flew to Kittilä by local airway and rented a car from the airport. The roads are completely like ice rinks but the wheels of the cars are custom made. Fortunately, we didn’t experience any slippage. We reached our first facility in about 1 hour. Come on, let’s start to get into some detail of these northern lights:
At the beginning of March, we stayed in two different facilities connected to Muonio by the lake in the Pallas-Yllästunturi national park, which is in the Lapland borders of Finland. We found the facilities we will stay from a world-renowned reservation site, but when we went, we realized that there are many beautiful facilities in and around the National Park.
“What if we can’t see the Northern Lights?”
In fact, if you go for 5-6 days and pay attention to what I’ll tell you soon, you’ll probably see it, but the chance factor is important! Therefore, I recommend that you participate in various activities or even buy them without traveling. In addition to the Husky and Reindeer farm, our second facility had snowmobile, Reindeer and Husky safari, farm house museum, Iglo Hotel and many other places to visit.
The reindeer safari is a bit slow and you don’t control it. With the carriage, you might think like someone is taking you around. However, in addition to the pleasant and safari, you stand somewhere in the woods and cook and eat at the Finnish barbecue.
But things are changing in Husky safaris. First they take you to the farm. Obviously, until the farm, “Pity animals, they will attract loads, tired,” he was a little uneasy. They’re all going crazy that the responsible person chooses themselves, and they can’t stop as soon as you tie them to the sled. I understand that this is their nature.
Moving, running, wasting energy arada In the meantime, you control the sleigh and the Husky are very fast. Only the guide in front is guiding you through your own sleigh. The commander is standing on the sled, if you have a friend with you, he just sits on the front of the sled and watches. One of the most important amenities in the area is that we didn’t mention it because we didn’t experience skiing. You can find many ski hotels.
When are the Northern Lights seen?
Northern lights are seen between the two equinoxes. I mean September 23 to March 21. Mü Does it appear every day during this period? ’No. However, solar winds coming from the sun interact with the atmosphere. When you have a high chance of seeing, they are close to the equinoxes. So around 23 September and 21 March. Each period has its own advantages. For example, if you go in the autumn, the snow doesn’t start to cover everywhere and the weather is less cold. As the Northern Lights start dancing, the waters are not frozen yet, and there are spectacular reflections on the lakes and seas.
If you go in winter, go to -20 and -40 degrees, but everything is white and frozen, and the trees are full of heaps of snow. Everywhere is ice-cold, and nature and wildlife are asleep. If you go in March, everything is still white, the waters have not yet started to melt. However, the weather is between 0 and -20 degrees during the day. The snow masses on the trees have started to decrease.
According to the research, the most active hours are between 22.30 and 02.30. However, before and after, you can see that I saw the most beautiful in the early hours! There are applications that show you the possibility of seeing the northern lights instantly. My favorite application was ‘Aurora Forecast’. It really works. If the probability is low then stop in a hot place, if the probability is slightly higher, wait in the open area. If you don’t have 6-7 hours outdoors all night long it is quite hard to wait in cold weather.
Imagination or Real?
Imagination is not real but there are many things to consider. For example, even the phase of the moon is important. If you go on the full moon, the sky is too bright and the light intensity is low. However, the object you include in the photograph becomes more specific; that is, if there is a tree, human or whatever in your frame, it becomes more visible thanks to the light of the moon. If you have gone to the new moon time, you are alone with the Northern Lights, but everywhere is dark, it is more difficult to take pictures. I can’t help but add; If the northern light is in a position where you take the bear behind you, then you will not be satisfied with the photos you took.
Another factor is the weather. If the sky is cloudy, don’t wait in vain. Go to your house or hotel. Meet brand new people, take a night walk, visit the nearby tourist towns, for something in your warm room… I don’t know çalış I would try to evaluate the moment in a different and beautiful way.
Another important element is the city lights. Many of my friends went and stayed in a popular town in the vicinity, paid a lot of money for the Northern Lights tours and returned without seeing anything. Best of all, stay in a deserted place, keep an eye on the application, and whenever possible and weather conditions. If it fits, get ready to go out and experience this unique experience.
Finnish Bath: One of the craziest things I’ve seen. They make a very nice Sauna in the wood on the edge of the lake. 5-6 months of the year, the lake is dull for several meters, but they drill a hole near the sauna and make sure it doesn’t freeze. People stay in the sauna for about 20 minutes, then go out into the frozen lake. They do this in 3 rounds. They say it’s incredibly healthy. They insisted on me, but I didn’t dare. I do not recommend too. Just go into that beautiful sauna.
BBQ: The Finnish BBQ is very enjoyable. In fact, a room, a large cooking area in the middle, you sit on the sides and cook your food on the one hand.
Finnish cuisine: The biggest consumption here is Reindeer meat. Veal, lamb, etc. very difficult to find. However, I must say that the reindeer meat is incredibly delicious. They usually give mashed potatoes along with meat and a jamy sauce made from berries.
Berry, this is paradise about it. This season, of course, you can only find it frozen, but for the first time in my life I’ve seen so many and different Berry together. I recommend you to buy from the markets. In Finland, bear meat is also eaten, but it is not easy to find.
Wildlife: Bear comes to mind that I have to talk about wildlife. If you’re going to wait for the northern lights for hours in the forest, it’s worth learning about the wildlife. In my research, I learned that there are bear, wolverine, lynx, wolf and fox in the region. When I went to talk to the local people, I realized that there is nothing to be afraid of. There are lots of foxes but it doesn’t hurt you; sleeping bear; wolves, lynx and wolverine seem very rarely here, more in the east.
Reindeers: Lapland’s icon. It is said that there are around 35,000 Reindeer in this region. They are so sweet… Frankly, I felt very strange when I went to restaurants. But there is nothing to do. Or you’il be hungry. You get used to it after a while. And there’s an interesting thing about the horns. Selling gifts, go wherever you go, everything from their horn. Because the reindeer’s antlers fall every year and they are collected and used for gift making.
Underwear: I would like you not to have 1 gram of cotton. This is really important. Because cotton is healthy, it has a sweat-holding structure. When you get dressed there, you will surely sweat, and you should not wear cotton to let your body breathe.
Coats and Pants: These are not as important as the underwear, but thermally air-holding and warm structure that you better wear things. You can choose ski jackets and pants. You should also wear a neck collar.
Hands: Gloves are essential. Try not to remove it as much as possible.
Head and Neck: Use a neck and a scarf instead of a scarf. Experts suggest synthetic or polar ones. If you are going during an extremely cold period, you can use a ski mask.
Other: I recommend you to take a few pocket heaters with you. Other suggestions for fighting cold: For plenty of water, for hot drinks, keep your hand at the bottom of your heart, do not stay steady, move, eat well, do not touch cold things as bare hands as possible.
Photographing in Lapland
I will not go into detail because it is a separate subject in itself. At least I have to write so much that it has already been too long. I just want to say: Don’t let yourself down, but it’s almost impossible for you to take the photos of the Northern Lights that you see in those famous photos with a non-professional camera.
It’s magical to see the Northern Lights. It’s hard to explain in words. It’s like the moment stops. I remember when he first came out. All the Husky on the farm began to howl, my machine broke down, an incredible feeling filled me, I just stared at this magic in the sky. A few minutes later, I and my camera could only recover and started photographing this magic.
I recently met someone interesting while sitting in a cafe. He introduced himself as an “expert on survival in nature and the arctic region.” He knows the northern parts of Norway and Sweden like the back of his hand. I liked something he said. Doğa Nature decides everything around here, ’he said.
Very true. You want to see the northern lights as much as you want, you can not see if nature does not allow… Then I wish you luck, let’s go to the northern lights, according to the indigenous people, I say to see the “Dance of the Souls”
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