An exciting entertainment is becoming increasingly popular in eco and adventure tourism: hunting the Northern Lights.
The aurora borealis in Iceland is one of the most spectacular in the world, being the atmospheric phenomenon a reference in terms of this conservationist sport of “hunting”.
What are the Northern Lights in Iceland
Polar auroras, as they are also known, are beautiful luminescent phenomena visible in areas near the poles, which occur when particles of solar radiation ejected by the sun collide with the gaseous atoms of the elements and compounds that make up the Earth's magnetosphere.
These particles ionize, forming a beautiful dance of green, red, purple, blue, orange and pink lights as they collide with the earth's magnetic field in the upper atmosphere.
The polar auroras that occur near the north pole are known as boreal and those near the south pole, austral. Phenomena that cannot be predicted with precision because in order for them to occur, specific conditions must exist.
In addition to its northern latitude, Iceland, which is part of the northern lights observation corridor, meets other conditions that make it one of the ideal destinations to admire these phenomena.
When are the best dates to see the Northern Lights in Iceland?
The longest night of the year occurs in the Northern Hemisphere on December 21 at the winter solstice. If you are in Iceland around that date you will have a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights, because most of the day will be at night.
The rains in December and January are a problem to see the Northern Lights in some places, because they also obstruct the vision of the phenomenon. Although Iceland has bad weather, its rainfall is less because the rainfall is 1,152 mm per year and quite uniform from month to month.
Why do the Northern Lights occur in Iceland?
For an aurora borealis to occur, the sun must have a certain activity, a star that is most active during solar flares, which cause the ionization of particles to increase and form polar auroras.
When the sun has low intensity there are few of these phenomena and if there are, they are not visible from the earth. However, an active sun also does not guarantee the visibility of the polar auroras, because for this other conditions that exist in few places, including Iceland, must be met. Let's get to know them.
1. Prolonged darkness
The Northern Lights also occur in the daytime, but they cannot be seen by sunlight. For this reason, the best places to observe them are the countries with long nights during most of the year, because it increases the probability that other necessary conditions will occur simultaneously.
2. Clarity
Although it seems contradictory, it is not. In this case the clarity means that there should be no cloudiness or pollution, because even with a very active sun these conditions will obstruct the vision of the polar auroras.
This is one of the reasons why the phenomenon can last for hours or disappear in minutes. If the climate worsens (and in high latitude regions it is very changeable) the polar auroras are no longer visible.
On the long Icelandic nights there are enough good weather windows to be seen with a little luck.
3. Low light pollution
All lighting, whether natural or artificial, is the enemy of the observation of polar auroras and, in general, of astronomical observation.
Light pollution is produced by the lights of cities and that is why uninhabited places and rural towns, which usually do not have so many, are the best places to observe the meteorological phenomenon.
Because it has so few inhabitants, only 351 thousand people, and because it is the cleanest country in the world, Iceland is favored for observing the northern lights.
Although the light from the Moon does not qualify as light pollution, it can affect observation.
When do the Northern Lights occur in Iceland?
The most likely period to observe the Northern Lights in Iceland is between September and April, with nights of up to 20 hours.
The probability that in that time there is sufficient solar activity and that the environment is clear, is considerable.
The day / night relationship changes drastically in favor of sunlight from May to August, so much so that the sun does not go down on June days.
Where to see the Northern Lights in Iceland
There are 4 known alternatives with advantages and disadvantages to see a Northern Lights in Iceland. Wait in the city or town
If you want to see a meteorological phenomenon of this type but do not want to venture on a trip without guarantees of seeing it, you can wait for it to occur in your city or town of accommodation.
Although this way you will not spend money, you will have the problem of light pollution. Still, intense polar auroras outshine this type of light.
Observation from Reykjavík
The capital of Iceland is the main populated center of the Republic with 36% of the national population and although it is the city with the most light pollution, it is also the one with the most hotels and urban attractions from where observers expect the Northern Lights to occur. .
In addition to looking for the darkest point, you have to wait for your eyes to adjust to that darkness.
The most frequented sites in the city as observation points are:
Grotta lighthouse
Light pollution is low at the Grotta lighthouse, an island and nature reserve 4.7 km from Reykjavik, at the end of the Seltjarnarnes peninsula, in Faxaflói Bay.
If the night is clear and the forecast is good, you will have the opportunity to admire a northern lights in full, while you wait with your warm feet in one of the geothermal bathtubs of the place.
Oskjuhlío
The wooded area of Oskjuhlío, a hill in central Reykjavik, provides good darkness for viewing the northern lights.
At this elevation is the Perlan, one of the emblematic buildings of the city where there is a museum referring to the Wonders of Iceland. On the fourth floor there is an observation deck to see Reykjavik and its surroundings.
Parks
Locals and foreigners usually wait for the northern lights in Reykjavik parks, when the forecast is good. Two of them, Laugardalur and Klambratún.
The first of these whose name in Spanish means "valley of the pools" is linked to the Reikiavikense past, as it was the place where women washed clothes in the hot springs until the 1930s.
Reykjavik attractions
While you wait for the northern lights to begin to illuminate the darkness with their striking colors, you can take the opportunity to discover various attractions of the Icelandic capital.
Among the architectural attractions are the Government House, an 18th century building; the seat of Parliament, from the nineteenth century, the old and new cathedral and the Nordic House.
The National Museum of Iceland opened in 1863 as an exhibition of antiquities. Now collects the history of the island from the emergence of Icelandic culture.
The largest botanical garden in the country is also one of the attractions of the capital.
Northern Lights observation from other Icelandic towns and villages
The observation of auroras will be more effective the smaller the locality in which you settle, because there will not be so much light pollution. Kópavogur, Hafnarfjorour, Akureyri and Keflavík, are the Icelandic cities that follow Reykjavik in size.
Kopavogur
With 30 thousand inhabitants and although it is integrated into the Reykjavik Metropolitan Area, Kópavogur is the second largest city in Iceland. It stands out for its cultural offer expressed in the Geroarsafn Museum, a square where the works of the country's main artists are exhibited.
Another site of interest in Kópavogur is the Museum of Natural History with a sample of the island geology, fauna and flora.
Hafnarfjorour
Hafnarfjorour is the third national city in population with about 22 thousand residents and the second most important fishing port in the country, which at the time of the Hanseatic League became the first with the most value.
In the summer, the city is the venue for a famous Viking festival attended by tourists from Europe and the rest of the world, enthusiasts or curious about this famous civilization.
Akureyri
Akureyri is a beautiful city of 18,500 inhabitants in the north of the island, near the Arctic Circle. It is next to the Eyjafjorour fjord, on the banks of the Glerá river.
The protection of the fjord provides Akureyri with a more temperate climate than the rest of the island.
Eyjafjorour is the longest fjord in the north of Iceland. Akureyri lives from fishing, agriculture and tourism. Its attractions include the main temple and the botanical garden.
Keflavík
It is a town of 14,000 inhabitants that together with Njarðvík and Hafnir, is part of the municipality of Reykjanesbaer. Keflavík has the tourist advantage of having an international airport.
Other Icelandic villages
If you have no problem settling into a rural or village accommodation to wait for the Northern Lights, you will enjoy the advantage of minimal light pollution for observation. In addition, in these towns you will get to know the traditions and the authentic Icelandic way of life.
2. Take a guided tour to observe the Northern Lights
Perhaps your best option to see a Northern Lights in Iceland is with a land tour from a bus or in cases of smaller groups, an off-road vehicle, with which you will reach more secluded places of observation.
Another advantage is that the guide will be available for a smaller number of people.
Advantages of the guided tour
1. Safety: the driver knows the roads and paths that are dangerous in winter.
2. Probability of seeing an aurora: the guides know where to go to increase the chances of observation and are attentive to the forecasts of auroras.
3. Mobility: you can safely move to another observation site if the weather changes negatively.
4. Other attractions: Aurora viewing tours can be combined with attractions such as ice caving and the Golden Circle, so that the trip has not been a waste of time if the auroras do not appear.
5. Better photos: the guides will help you to make your photos of better quality.
6. Second chance: some operators lower their prices on a second tour if the first failed in terms of observing the Northern Lights.
Disadvantages of the guided tour
The only downside to a guided tour may be paying for something that you can see for free from your hotel. In neither case are there guarantees of effective observation.
3. Go hunting on your own
As long as you have a valid license in the country, you can rent an off-road vehicle and hunt the northern lights yourself.
Considerations for driving vehicles in Iceland
1. Age: You must be 20 and 23 to rent cars and SUVs, respectively.
2. Transmission: Most cars are manual transmission. If you want automatic you must specify it.
3. Insurance: the rental rate includes Collision Damage Liability insurance. If you will be driving along the south coast or many secondary roads, you better have it.
Tire punctures are not covered by some insurance.
4. Speed limit: 90 KPH on asphalt roads, 80 on gravel and dirt roads and 50 in cities. Although you will not see many policemen they will be recording you on control cameras.
5. Drive side: drive on the right.
6. Price of gasoline: 199 Icelandic kronor (1.62 USD) per liter.
7. Rental rate: the rental price varies according to the type of vehicle, the season and the rental period.
ATVs can range from ISK 7,500 to 45,000 per day (USD 61-366). Summer is the most expensive time.
8. Restrictions: as an environmental protection measure, it is forbidden to drive outside the authorized roads for motor vehicle traffic. The fine can be very expensive.
Advantages of hunting polar auroras in a rented vehicle
Perhaps the only advantage of this option for the objective of hunting the Northern Lights is privacy and freedom, without the distractions of other people or the time constraints that you would have on a land tour.
Disadvantages of hunting auroras in a rented vehicle
1. Insecurity: Icelandic roads are risky during the Northern Lights viewing period because of darkness, snow, winds, gravel and animals crossing the tracks.
2. Inexperienced hunting for polar auroras: apart from inexperience in searching, the driver should also be in charge of checking the weather and northern lights forecasts.
4. Go out to observe by boat
Going out by boat is the alternative to the land option. Tours are available in Reykjavík, Akureyri and in other cities.
When they depart from these, they head to the Eyjafjorour Fjord or Faxafloí Bay, where there are good sighting opportunities.
Advantage
1. Elimination of light pollution: light pollution disappears completely offshore, which favors a clear observation of the polar aurora.
2. Lower cost: generally they are tours of maximum one day, which implies lower costs.
3. Unexpected sightings: there is the possibility that you will see humpback whales, porpoises or white-beaked dolphins.
4. The enchantment of the sea under a starry sky: the sea is rewarding and more beautiful when it is covered by a starry sky.
Disadvantages
1. Less chances of sighting: it is not ruled out that during a short tour the weather changes and there is no sighting of the northern lights or marine species. As in some land tours, in these cases the operators also offer a second chance.
2. Less mobility: mobility to another place of interest will not be as fast as in a land vehicle.
Northern lights forecast in Iceland
Let's find out what you should expect to see a Northern Lights in Iceland.
Probabilistic scale
Just as there are weather forecasts, there are for the auroras, although less accurate.
The institutions that give the Northern Lights forecasts monitor solar activity and weather conditions to generate a forecast on a numerical scale, usually 1 to 9.
Online Forecasts
The Aurora Forecast is the responsibility of the country's Meteorological Office.
The Service Aurora makes forecasts for the northern lights in Europe with information from NASA and each country's climate monitoring centers.
Forecasts for polar auroras can be somewhat frustrating. When they indicate that the probability is low, they are generally correct and when they say that it is high, they often fail. Even so, they must be taken into account.
Probability of aurora borealis in Iceland
Let's learn about the factors that affect the probability of seeing a Northern Lights in Iceland.
Time and wait
The most important factor in improving your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland is the time spent on the island during the annual observation period (September - April). Another determining factor is luck.
There are people who in just 3 days in the country manage to see the Northern Lights. Specialists agree that the minimum travel time should be one week. From there, the longer you are in Iceland between September and April, the chance of this festival of lights will increase.
Although the northern lights do not follow a pattern that can be predicted, there tend to be quite active periods of 2 or 3 nights that are followed by calm lapses of 4 or 5 days. If you travel for a week it is likely that you can see several.
Try to forget the Northern Lights and good luck!
Even if your goal is to see the meteorological phenomenon, you should prepare a list of activities to do in Iceland, so that you can distract yourself without obsessing and then get frustrated if you do not see a polar aurora.
Hotel to see the Northern Lights in Iceland
Iceland has great hotels built in harmony with nature to make viewing the Northern Lights an even more magical sight.
Hotel Rangá, Hella
When the Northern Lights sweep over this hotel, a crown of lights appears to form.
In the peaceful and beautiful Hotel Rangá you will have the tranquility you need to wait for the northern lights, due to its good weather conditions and the non-existent light pollution.
You can wait in an outdoor hot tub while you gaze at the Hekla volcano, the town's natural sentinel called by Icelanders in the Middle Ages, the "Gate of Hell. If you want to know it more closely, you can go on excursions and hiking.
In addition to a wake-up service, the hotel also has an astronomical observatory for you to explore the sky.
Look at the hotel in Booking
Hotel ION, Selfoss
Accommodation in Selfoss, 59 km southeast of Reykjavík. It works in a beautifully minimalist and modern building, on a rugged volcanic land.
Its cozy bar with panoramic views is a great place to wait for the Northern Lights.
The ION Hotel is close to the Thingvellir National Park, a World Heritage Site, where Iceland's Independence was proclaimed in 1944 and the site of the Prime Minister's summer home.
In this park there is also the Silfra fissure, the point of separation of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, so if you dive, you will have an "intercontinental" experience there.
Not far from the ION Hotel are the Geysir hot springs with The Great Geysir, a geyser whose name gave rise to this word that defines the phenomena of emission of columns of hot water and steam.
The Great Geysir was the first known geyser and came to emit jets up to 122 meters. Unfortunately, visitors got used to throwing wish-making objects and ruined it. Other geysers in the area emit columns of lower height.
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Hotel Glymur, Akranes
Akranes is a town of 7,100 inhabitants 49 km north of Reykjavik. It is the county town of Borgarfjardar.
The hotel was named after the Glymur waterfall, the highest in Iceland and one of the longest in Europe, at 196 meters. It is located in the Hvalfjordur fjord and you can meet it after a 2-hour excursion.
The Hvalfjordur or fjord of the whales no longer hosts as many cetaceans as when it earned its name, but it is still a place of surprising beauty.
Other attractions near Akranes are the Staupasteinn or Glass of Wine, a curious rock formation that was declared a national monument, and the Goddafoss or Waterfall of the Gods, where according to legend the first Icelandic ruler converted to Christianity cast his pagan images.
At the comfortable Hotel Glymur you can disconnect comfortably for a few days admiring the bay and the mountainous landscapes, while waiting for the Northern Lights.
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Photo of aurora borealis in Iceland
Videos of Northern Lights in Iceland
Below is a timelapse of the Northern Lights in Iceland:
Did you know what the Northern Lights are? Did you imagine how beautiful these natural phenomena are in Icelandic territory?
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