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Catch the Northern Lights: a look at one of the most amazing natural phenomena in the world - voila! tourism

2023-01-03T07:28:38.797Z


The Northern Lights are considered one of the most magical natural phenomena in the world. This way you can see it in all its glory as part of a trip to Iceland


The Northern Lights (Photo: ShutterStock)

Who among us has not heard of the Northern Lights?

A colorful and mysterious light show in the northern sky of the Earth, which causes people from all over the world to cross continents and travel thousands of kilometers, to reach places like Iceland and watch the illuminated wonder.



What is the Northern Lights, and how is it created?



The Northern Lights, or northern lights, are created in the Van Allen Belt - bands of energetically charged particles that surround the Earth.

When energetically charged particles come from the sun, they collide with gas particles in the Earth's atmosphere and this is how the spectacular sight is created.

The colors of the show (polar lights) change according to the types of gas particles participating in the process.

An encounter with oxygen particles, for example, gives rise to a show of green lights, while a more rare encounter with hydrogen or nitrogen particles, gives rise to a show of red and blue lights.



As you can understand, many conditions have to exist at the same time to allow the formation of the phenomenon, so sometimes patience and waiting for a few days is required until the spectacular "show" begins.

In addition, the polar lights change depending on the state of the particles in the sky, so a different show may be obtained in its intensity, colors and length, which does not always look exactly like in the pictures.



In which countries can you see the Northern Lights?



The Northern Lights or the Northern Lights can be seen near the North Pole, although the phenomenon also exists at the South Pole.

If a rarer phenomenon occurs, such as a magnetic storm, the northern lights can move away from the polar regions and reach, for example, various countries in central Europe.

Traveling specifically to watch the Northern Lights?

It is better to travel to places where the chance of seeing him is particularly high.



The lights can be seen in northern Russia, Lapland, Greenland, Alaska and Canada.

In some of them you can stay inside a bungalow hotel with a transparent glass ceiling, which allows a comfortable view from the bed of the shining sky.

Iceland is considered among the more popular viewing locations, due to the high chance of seeing the Northern Lights from there.

To all of these you can add a relatively short flight from Israel, friendly residents and many other tourist attractions such as whale watching in the wild.



Where and when does the celestial show take place?



The ideal time to travel to Iceland to view the northern lights is between the months of September and April, with January being considered the most suitable month for viewing the lights (especially its second half).

And having said that, if you're lucky you might be able to see the aurora even in August.



The time when you will enjoy the greatest chance of seeing the Northern Lights passing over Iceland is midnight, which makes the whole experience even more mysterious and special.

However, you should reserve a few hours each night (for example between 22:00 - 02:00), because the phenomenon sometimes occurs several times throughout the night, for periods of approximately 15 minutes per show.



The most suitable location for viewing the northern lights is as far away from the city as possible, as deep as possible in nature.

The reason for this is the lighting: a bit like stargazing, to see the northern lights at their best it is recommended to be in a place without artificial lighting (although you can also see the lights in Reykjavik, Iceland's largest city).

Therefore, it is recommended to try to schedule your flight to Iceland for days when there is no moon at all or when the moon is not full.



Finally, you should check the condition of the clouds in the sky before you go to chase the northern lights, because a sky covered with heavy clouds will hide the show from you.



Where in Iceland should you go to see the polar lights?



You should spend at least a week traveling in Iceland in order to try different locations to watch the phenomenon, especially around Reykjavik.

Here are some of the prominent locations:



Arriving in Reykjavík

- the largest city in Iceland is a location from which you can see the northern lights, also known as "Aurora".

Within Reykjavik itself, you should try to catch the glow near the Grótta lighthouse in the northwest of the city.

Next to the lighthouse you will find a small geothermal pool with hot water where you can warm your feet in the icy night air while you wait for the show.

Another recommended location within Reykjavík is the Oskjuhlid hill that overlooks the city and is surrounded by a dark forest.



A view from the heart of the ocean

- One of the most exciting and adventurous options for chasing the Northern Lights in the Reykjavík area is watching the lights from the ocean.

Observation boats depart from Reykjavík harbor located in the center of the city and sail about 20 minutes from the city's coastline.

The distance from the city lights ensures a dark sky free of light pollution.

For these reasons, the light show as seen over the ocean is considered particularly spectacular.



Chasing the Northern Lights in a private car or on an organized tour

- you can rent a car and drive after the Northern Lights in the vicinity of Reykjavik or in one of the other nearby towns.

In order to be able to see the polar lights in such a case, it is recommended to check the state of the clouds in the sky in the area you are traveling to.

You should also check relevant websites for the level of solar activity that evening, in order to understand what the chances are that you will meet the Zohar.

There are also Icelandic Facebook groups that offer predictions and recommendations on where to go on a specific evening to see the lights at their best.



Prefer someone else to do the hard work for you?

You can always take an organized bus tour with professional guides who know how to locate the polar lights, know the best locations and know when the best chance is to see them.

The Northern Lights over Mount Kirkeople, Iceland (Photo: ShutterStock)

Planning to see the Zohar?

There is only one thing for sure,



watching the northern lights can reveal to you the wonders of nature and the universe in all their glory.

But the glow can be elusive: even if you time the trip precisely, get to the most recommended locations and stand for long hours every night in the dark areas of Iceland hoping to see the lights, no one can guarantee you that it will actually happen.

Want to play it safe in an equally important field?

If you need medical assistance far from home, you can make sure that you will receive it, if you purchase travel insurance abroad.



After all, when we or our loved ones are not feeling well, we want to see the light (at the end of the tunnel) - and receive the best care possible.

It is precisely for this reason that you should get travel insurance abroad already in the stages of planning your trip to Iceland, and ensure that if necessary there is someone to take care of you. The importance of travel insurance increases especially when it comes to an adventurous trip such as a trip to Iceland following the Northern Lights, a trip where you may find yourself traveling In the dark hours of the night on roads covered with ice, when your eyes are constantly checking what's happening in the sky. And that's before we even mentioned the cold weather, which can increase the chances of getting sick and needing medical attention. A



glow in the sky and an innovative app in your hands



Even when you are in a remote place like Iceland, if you need medical assistance it is just a click away.

This is on the assumption that you will purchase travel insurance abroad, which includes an application that allows you to activate it with the click of a button. For example, travel insurance abroad Phoenix smart travel includes a dedicated application, which allows you to perform a variety of actions in an easy way - which saves time and cuts through bureaucracy.

The application allows you to search for a doctor available nearby and more than that - make an appointment with him at the click of a button.



Want to make an appointment with the doctor, without going to the clinic?

no problem.

If you have purchased Phoenix travel insurance abroad, you can make an appointment for a video call through the app - and even receive a referral or prescription as needed. In some cases, you can order a doctor to come to you (he may not come to Lev Yam if you went on a sea chase after the northern lights, but in some cases it will be able to reach your hotel room).



And what about paying the doctor?

Standard travel insurance often involves paying the doctor out of your own pocket.

To receive a refund, you will have to open a claim and wait for a refund from the insurance company.

The Phoenix smart travel app saves you the bureaucracy.

Did you book an appointment through the app?

Phoenix will pay for you behind the scenes, without you having to pay out of pocket and wait for reimbursement.

The service in the application is provided by the Israeli company Air Doctor, which connects travelers with doctors around the world.



Photograph the Northern Lights



It is not easy to capture the northern lights with the camera lens, but for those who choose to take high-quality photography equipment, the chances of taking high-quality photos that will leave an amazing souvenir of the experience increase.

You should look for guides and check how it is recommended to point the camera in order to record the northern lights in all their glory.

In case you decide to take an expensive camera with you, you should also take care of it with appropriate insurance coverage: when purchasing travel insurance abroad, you can add dedicated coverage for the camera, which will provide financial reimbursement up to the ceiling specified in the policy in the event of theft. To



see the northern lights and return illuminated



. Viewing the northern lights can to be an experience of true spiritual awakening. An exciting once-in-a-lifetime event, worth investing in, planning well and traveling to distant Iceland to pursue it - even if only for a few days. Just don't forget to protect yourself with tailored and comprehensive travel insurance, which will allow you to concentrate on the trip and enjoy this special experience to the fullest.



This information is general about the plan only and all of the above is subject to the full policy terms and conditions.

To review the full policy terms and complete information about the insurance coverages, exclusions and reservations, you can go to the company's website at WWW.FNX.CO.IL.



The company makes efforts to ensure that the information presented in the article is complete and accurate, however there may be changes and/or inaccuracies and/or errors appear in the article.

Reliance on the information is solely the responsibility of the user of the information.

The company will not bear any responsibility for any damage and/or loss of any kind and type that may be caused, either directly or indirectly, as a result of reliance on this information.

What is stated in the article is not a substitute for legal advice or any other advice that takes into account the data and the special needs of each person.

The Phoenix Insurance Company Ltd.

In collaboration with Phoenix

  • tourism

  • Travels in the world

Tags

  • the phoenix

  • the northern lights

  • Iceland

Source: walla

All life articles on 2023-01-03

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