The Northern Lights
Photo by Natalia Robba
What Are The Northern Lights?
The northern lights, or aurora Borealis, are natural a phenomenon; shafts or undulating stripes of light across the dark sky. Although they can show up purple, red or green the most common sighting here in northern Finland is green, the other two colours being extremely rare here.
They are caused by gas emissions from the sun being pulled into the earth’s gravity and reacting with the Earth’s magnetic field. The gas normally takes about 3 days to travel to us from the Sun meaning that scientists can predict, to an extent, where and when they will appear (see below).
The different colours are caused by the altitude at which they hit the Earth’s magnetic field. Blue violet/reds occur below 60 miles (100 km), bright green strongest between 60-150 miles (100-240 km), above 150 miles (240 km) ruby reds appear.
Photo by madmack66
Can You See them In Ruka And Kuusamo?
Yes. If they appear when the sky is dark and clear, you can see them. However, unless they are very strong you will need to move away from areas with street lights and other sources of electric light.
This can be as simple as turning off your cabin lights and standing outside if you are in an area with no street lights or walking/driving to a dark area.
Ideal spots are ones where you can see the horizon, on the top of hills for example, as you will get a better chance to spot some if they are at a distance.
Many guiding companies in Ruka and Kuusamo offer northern lights excursions where they will drive you, usually by snowmobile and sledge, to a ideal spot.
Photo by madmack66
When Are They On?
Being a natural occurrence they appear as the Sun’s gas passes by Earth. In this area, they can be seen from October through to March, the most likely time to see them being Dec through to the end of February, although as long as it is dark and clear outside, you will see them if they happen.
The northern lights can actually occur at any time of the day but its needs to be dark and the skies clear for us to see them. Peak hours are between 11pm and 2am however I am rarely outside after 9pm and often watch them in January and February evening around 7pm or 8pm as I am feeding my horses.
Northern Lights Forecast
The best website I have found for forecasting the northern lights is the Geographical Institute of Alaska. Using this website is simple.
- Click on the view of Europe on the top left hand side
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the short term forecast map. The strength needs to be at kp-3 or higher for us to see them well in this area.
There is also a wealth of other information on this website about the northern lights including how to make a long term northern lights forecast and an Aurora alerts mailing list you can join where they will email you when solar activity gets high.
Photo by cogdogblog
Northern Lights Frequency Rising Between 2010 and 2015
According to AuroraHunter.com we are, in 2010, sat in a trough of very low sun activity. The sun has a cycle of 11 years where every 11 years the solar activity, amount of energy that the sun throws out into space, picks up. Over the next 5 years, 2011 to 2015 this solar activity should rise to the peak of the cycle once more.
In theory this means that sightings of the aurora borealis will become stronger and more frequent the closer to 2015 we get and then slowly drop off again. But, just like weather predictions, there are no guarantees.
Hi, I'm Heather and this is my blog and travel guide to Ruka and Kuusamo, Lapland
Hey there
Great post on the northern lights, I’m a keen aurora chaser myself! Next planned trip is to Churchill Manitoba actually! Will try my luck 
Thanks for using my picture
Oh wow, that sounds like a great trip! We are very lucky here in that we see them regularly just standing in our garden. I really need to work out how to photograph them – which no means buying an expensive camera.
How many more reasons do you have to give me for visiting Finland? We once saw the lights as far south as Perth. I was in a pub and missed them. It wasn’t an ice bar so no excuse really.
They are spectacular things. would you hate me if I said I see them all the time on my farm?
Well worth coming out to see.
You saw them in a pub in Perth. Are you sure Mrs W? I mean you were in a pub!?
She has a point there MrsW
Hey Heather
Whereabouts do you live exactly? I’d love to be able to see them just by stepping outside
I live just outside Kuusamo in northern Finland.
It is amazing to be able to see them in your own yard. sometimes even through our bedroom window whilst lying in bed.:)
ooooh that sounds romantic. Any travel companies want me to write about a trip to Finland?? I gotta go.
Wouldn’t that be great? I promise I wouldn’t charge you much for food and board
Hi Heather
My wife and I would love to witness this natural phenomenon.We live in London and wondered whether you would like to spend a few days with us in the summer in return for a similiar arrangements for a winter trip in February.All meals ,accomodation and travel to lLondon sites.We can accomodate you this summer.
Harry & MargaretWe
Hi Heather
In adition to my last reply to you -If you know of any member of your church(we are christians) who would be interested in a few days holiday swap in London-We are not very far from SStanstead airport so picking up will be easy
Harry & marfgaret
We see the northern lights over the lake at Yllas. When they start it looks amazing like the colours are dancing.
It’s amazing isn’t it? I stand in amazement with my mouth open an inch every time I see them. I don’t think I’ll ever get used it.
My husband, being born here, just sort of shrugs and complains about how cold it is and wants to go inside. I’ll happily stand out there in all manner of cold watching them. well, as long as I’ve got enough clothes on
[...] If you want to learn more about the northern lights, what they are, when you can see them in this part of Lapland, then read this post about northern lights in Ruka. [...]