Aurora Lights: A Natural Wonder

	Green Aurora as Seen from Space 1

A celestial light show, the aurora can appear as dancing streamers of colour softly moving through the night sky. Or perhaps they light up the heavens, mimicking an intense fire burning in the dark. In yet another form, the aurora may emerge as an arc, spanning hundreds of kilometres across. No matter the form this natural phenomenon may take, those who witness the aurora are often humbled and fascinated by the curtains of colour before their eyes.

Known as aurora borealis (or northern lights) in the northern hemisphere and aurora australis (or southern lights) in the south, this seemingly magical effect has captured people of diverse cultures throughout the centuries. Visible because of the Earth's atmosphere, the lights of the aurora will appear against the night sky as soft waves of colour, often materializing in different patterns, all as individually unique as the last. Often described as nature's fireworks, the lights of the aurora cause fascination, pulling people to locations where this nighttime show is visible, making it a truly unique tourist attraction. For those of centuries past, the aurora emitted awe, reverence, and even fear, giving way to a wide range of beliefs in an effort to understand its meaning.

	Aurora Occurs in the Upper Atmosphere 2

FOLKLORE

From dragons to dancing souls, cultures throughout the world have attempted to explain the swaying lights in the night sky through legends and myths. From northern aboriginal beliefs that related the aurora borealis with life and death to ancient Chinese cultures that created the earliest dragon legends from the lights, the aurora have affected cultural beliefs from the moment they were perceived.

Because they are more often seen in the north, legends and myths about the lights abound among the diverse aboriginal cultures of Canada. A common Inuit belief was that the auroras were the souls of the departed on their way to the afterlife, while other Inuit thought that they were the souls of unborn children. Eskimos living in the Hudson Bay area held that whistling at the northern lights would cause them to move towards the sound while clapping would jolt it away. Others in regions of Greenland and some parts of Canada believed the lights to be departed souls attempting to contact living loved ones.

However, not all cultures revered the lights as a positive force. People of middle age Europe viewed the aurora as a negative omen and often viewed them with fear. To them, the northern lights were signs of impending disasters such as plagues and wars. Moreover, during times of activity, children were thought to be in danger of being killed by the lights if caught outdoors. Some northern European countries held the belief that the northern lights could descend and even kill anyone who dared mock them.

SCIENCE OF THE AURORA

	Composite Image of the Auroral Oval 3

Although named after Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn, the explanation of the lights is far less romantic than its moniker. Constantly bombarded by solar winds, auroral displays occur when electrically charged particles from the sun's atmosphere are blown towards the Earth. Inevitably, some of these particles enter the Earth's upper atmosphere at the north and south poles, where they collide with gas particles. Once this meeting occurs, the particles become energized and emit light. The result is a dazzling show that colors the sky in long arcs or patches that ripple and wave through the sky.

While it may seem that one could reach up and touch these streamers of light, the aurora will generally occur from 80 km (50 mi) above the Earth's surface to as much as 640 km (400 mi) high. The lights can appear in a myriad of colours but the shade emitted is dependant on how high the aurora occurs. Occurring at about 97 km (60 mi) high, the most commonly observed is a soft yellowish-green or pink, while the very rare red aurora is produced at about 320 km (200 mi) high. Other less common colours include deep yellows, violets and blues.

The lights that make up the aurora are usually seen in the northern and southern hemispheres, appearing most predominantly in a zone known as the auroral oval. This area, located over each magnetic pole, takes the shape of an irregular oval that will expand and contract towards and away from the equator in accordance with magnetic storms generated by the sun. Large storms will usually create the bigger and more impressive light shows. While the lights are clearly visible in areas that fall within the auroral oval, they are most often seen in Canada because of the country's proximity to the northern magnetic pole.

NORTHERN LIGHTS VIEWING AND TOURS

The aurora is visible throughout the year at various places, yet the best time to view this phenomenon is always during the winter season. This is because winter offers longer nights and clearer skies, an ideal condition for the lights. Midnight or later is also the best time of night to watch out for the first signs of waving colour.

Northern Canada is generally the best place for viewing auroral displays with the Yukon, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories being optimal destinations. Alaska is also a great place for these displays. However, the lights are also clearly visible and equally impressive in the northern areas of many provinces, including Alberta. Ideal observation locales consist of the towns and surrounding areas of Athabasca, Slave Lake, Peace River, Grand Prairie, and Fort Chipewyan, with Fort McMurray being the most popular choice for visitors.

Fort McMurray and its surrounding area are typically within the Auroral Oval, yet this is not always the case because this area will expand and contract towards and away from the equator throughout the year. The town itself has very little artificial light, or light pollution, which glares over the nighttime sky. This in turn provides easy access to darker observation sites. It is not necessary for visitors to travel too far from Fort McMurray to experience the northern lights because it is not uncommon for displays to occur directly above the town during the viewing season, which extends from September to mid-April.

	Norhern Lights Near Fort McMurray 4

Those wanting the guidance of a company specializing in aurora borealis tours in Northern Alberta will find a few available in the area, many of which take visitors to sites just outside Fort McMurray. Although the sightseeing usually occurs on the outskirts of this community, these formal northern lights viewing tours are not always based there and visitors may find them in places such as Edmonton and the small town of Anzac.

Usually offered from September to mid-April, tours will usually span a couple of days with several nights of sky gazing. This increases the chance that visitors will catch an aurora show. Many will also provide guests with aurora education and constellation identification. During the day, guests will generally have the option of choosing from a myriad of planned activities. These could range from shopping trips and nature walks to dog sledding, skiing or snowboarding excursions.

TRANSPORTATION

	Rare Red Aurora 5

There are many transportation options to consider for those heading to Fort McMurray, including motorcoaches and charter flights. The Fort McMurray Airport offers scheduled flights to and from major areas such as Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge and Saskatchewan. For ground transportation within Alberta, Red Arrow Motorcoach and Greyhound Canada both offer comfortable bus routes to Fort McMurray, leaving from either Edmonton or Calgary. Rides from Calgary are about 10 hours long while the trip from Edmonton lasts about five hours.

Those considering making the road trip on their own can access Fort McMurray via Highway 63 from Edmonton. Located about 435 km (270 mi) northeast of Edmonton, the drive will usually take between four to five hours. Because the northern lights viewing season occurs in the wintertime, drivers should be especially wary and should check winter road conditions before making the trip. It is also a good idea to pack a winter kit that includes essentials such as a First Aid kit, flashlights and extra batteries, candles and matches, blankets, and non-perishable food items.