Experts are predicting that 2025 will be a great year for spotting the Northern Lights.
Known also by its Latin name Aurora Borealis, the spectacular light show is usually observable around the Arctic Circle.
The phrase was first used in the early seventeenth century to describe the heavenly phenomenon.
Aurora was the goddess of dawn in ancient Roman mythology and Borealis means northerly. A literal translation would be the northerly light of dawn.
One place offering perhaps the best views of the Northern Lights is the village of Abisko.
Abisko is located in the northwest of Sweden, between Norway’s Narvik city and Kiruna city in Swedish Lapland.
The area is known for its clear skies and low light pollution, making it an excellent location for viewing the Northern Lights.
It also has a unique microclimate that tends to have less cloud cover than other areas in the region, which can increase the chances of seeing the aurora.
The Northern Lights are primarily caused by solar storms. When these come towards Earth, some of the energy and small particles can travel down the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles of the planet’s atmosphere.
There, the particles interact with gases in Earth’s atmosphere resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky. Oxygen gives off green and red light.
Abisko also boasts a National Park which lies on the banks of Lake Tornetrask and is part of the 440-kilometre Kungsleden hiking route.
During the winter, visitors can do dog sledding or take a ride on a snowmobile and explore the frozen hinterland.
