Northern Lights...
 

Though I've lived far north, I've never seen the "Northern Lights". <BR>The "Best Sunsets" thread got me to thinking about where the most awesome aurora borealis are (or otherwise wonderful northern lights of ANY kind!)... <BR> <BR>Any takers? (I WILL see them one day!)

I have seen them in Alaska, and in Finland. An incredible display of nature's beauty.

No matter what you do, it's still a matter of good fortune to see them; you can only change your odds. To better your odds, travel-- <BR>-- further north. <BR>-- further away from city lights. <BR>-- during longer nights (ie, winter). <BR>-- during periods of high solar activity (like now!). <BR> <BR>I was blessed -- saw them in North Dakota in the summer when I wasn't expecting them. Just happened to be driving north at 2 am on a clear night!

Best show I've seen was near Fairbanks, sometime in January or February - curtains of green and blue, shimmering. The bad news was that it was around -40F at the time, so viewing was done in haste. <BR>Am told the name in Scots Gaelic translates to "the dancing men." <BR>

I lucked into a spectacular display one August at a lake just outside of Kamloops, BC, Canada. It was around the time of the meteor showers. The whole sky danced and shimmered for the longest time - and the weather was perfect for viewing.

Hammerfest, Norway.