Fort McMurray is located in the northeastern region of Alberta, approximately 450 km (280 mi) from Edmonton. Sometimes referred to as 'Alberta's Northern Light', it is here that visitors can experience some of the most exceptional views of the Aurora Borealis—a solar wind that colours the winter night sky in astonishing shades of green, red, yellow and purple. Several tour operators will take visitors to prime viewing locations to observe this surreal phenomenon. The Oil Sands have lead to a huge population boom in Fort McMurray, and these profitable resources can be explored on one of several tours of the energy mine sites. Due to its northern location, Fort McMurray sees a lot of snow, making for a fun winter getaway that can involve a number of activities, including snowmobiling, dogsledding, and horse-drawn sleigh ride tours. In the summer, visitors can enjoy a round of golf or spend the day boating and fishing on one of the nearby lakes or rivers.