Page 359 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Canada

NORTHERN LIGHTS
Witnessing the ethereal dance of the Northern Lights is nothing less than
spectacular. And with the Arctic landscape as a backdrop, this natural
phenomenon is certainly one of the highlights of the Yukon.

The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, are believed
to be the result of solar winds entering the Earth’s MYTHS AND
ionosphere some 100 miles (160 km) above the surface LEGENDS
of the planet. Emanating from the sun, these winds Numerous stories about
collide with the gases present in the Earth’s upper the Northern Lights
atmosphere, releasing energy that becomes visible in have sprung up over the
the night sky. Vibrant greens, reds, purples, blues, and centuries. The Greeks
yellows shimmer in unusual patterns, and are best and Romans named the
seen between the months of August and April, when lights after Aurora, the
the night skies are at their darkest. The further away goddess of dawn, and
you are from the city lights the better the show, as Boreas, the god of wind.
you’ll likely have an undisturbed view. Southern Lights The Vikings believed
exist as well, close to the south pole. Interestingly, that the lights were a
Earth isn’t the only planet to have auroras – Jupiter, reflection of the shields
Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune have them as well. and armour of the
Valkyrie – immortal
female warriors. Early
Chinese legends tell of a
celestial battle between
good and evil dragons
breathing fire across the
skies. Some Aboriginal
groups see the flashes
as spirits of dead
hunters, while the
19th-century gold
prospectors mistook
the lights for vapors
of gold ore deposits.
Photographer setting up to capture
the Northern Lights over Yukon

Ethereal green lights
of the aurora borealis
reflected in a lake

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