The Murmansk region is a convenient place to observe one of the wonders of nature: the northern lights. The proximity to the Earth's magnetic pole makes it possible to see the northern lights from August to May. The northern lights are very diverse in shape and development. The dictionary defines the northern lights as the glow (luminescence) of the upper atmosphere due to the interaction of the planet's magnetosphere with charged particles of the solar wind. The aurora borealis result from the bombardment of the upper atmosphere by protons and electrons invading from space. Under the influence of these particles, oxygen and nitrogen molecules are excited and emit light quanta. The stripes of the northern lights can stretch for thousands of kilometers.
If you live in Moscow or St. Petersburg, the most convenient place for such an excursion is the city of Murmansk. The Northern Lights appear already at the end of August, sometimes it is even visible in St. Petersburg itself! This pleasure lasts until April each year, so you can choose any convenient time for your trip yourself. In winter, the temperature drops to -35 degrees, this motivates some tourists to come in the fall, and some, on the contrary, want to arrange a real snowy tale for themselves, which no longer indulges the vests of our capitals.
You can get to Murmansk in many ways, the fastest of which is by plane - from Moscow the flight takes 2.5 hours, from St. Petersburg - 1.5 hours. You will spend much more time on the train - 35 hours from Moscow and 27 from the Northern capital. But you can get a good night's sleep and come to Murmansk full of strength to hunt for the northern lights.
Fans of car travel should take into account that the road from St. Petersburg to Murmansk takes about 1300 km. The roads are mostly good, but if you are not confident in your abilities, it is best to invite a co-driver on the trip or stop at one of the many motels en route.
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Unfortunately, there is simply no single answer to this question! The fact is that it all depends on several factors:
1. Weather at the time of viewing. In order to detect the aurora borealis, the sky must be cloudless. Therefore, you need to look at a detailed forecast in advance.
2. Solar activity. The sun emits different amounts of energy, which turns into the northern lights. These forecasts are more accurately compiled by the guides on our Northern Lights tours.
3. Illumination of the area. You need to go further from the city (at least 20 kilometers) so that there is no artificial lighting nearby. We recommend stocking up on powerful flashlights if you go in search of the northern lights on your own.
If you can predict the weather and even more so the lighting, then it is quite difficult to accurately determine solar activity. Therefore, we recommend focusing on the picturesque surroundings, the clarity of the night sky and minimal light from the ground. The easiest way is to go along the already proven tourist routes and purchase a guided tour focused on a professional search for this natural phenomenon.
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