Aurora blog # 1

Think of Iceland, what does it cunjour up? For many it was the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull which brought misery to many air travellers far and wide when it erupted with huge clouds of ash, but few of those people realised the impact it had on Iceland esp those who lived close to it. ​The eruption did cause devastation to the landscape and surrounding farms but as they recovered the news of the eruption really did put Iceland back on the map, and for something other than the financial crash of 2008. Iceland, the land of ice and fire is a country of sheer beauty and awe.

Once you experience Iceland for the first time, you will be drawn back again and again to experience

both the warmth of its people, the extremes of its landscapes and if you time it right, you’re set to see one of nature’s most amazing natural phenomena, the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights.
I have been on 58 tours so far with more to come to see the Aurora in Iceland, I have been fortunate too see the spectacle to varying degrees on all  those trips. And I am always impressed by nature’s magical light show.

Aurora trips are designed to place you in the best position to see this natural firework display but we also like to show you around some of the country we are visiting. Tours can take in the highlights of Iceland from the famed blue lagoon, wonderful waterfalls, seeing the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, the volcano museum, geyser fields, and visits to towns and villages.

In the daytime we want to give you an Icelandic experience too, we travel to various places and soak up the lifestyle and geology of Iceland, I often give a presentation to explain what the Aurora actually are, and many of the legends associated with the lights, and by this time the sky will be dark enough for us to go outside to view the Aurora if they are visible.

What is the Aurora, well in its simple terms it’s the interaction of the Solar Wind on the Earth magnetic field. This creates interactions in the earth’s atmosphere and creates an Auroral display. Iceland is inside an Auroral oval hence it being one of the best places on Earth to see the lights. Trips to Iceland are about being in the great outdoors, in amazing landscapes, experiencing the geology and culture of one of the most amazing places on Earth.

We are often asked about issues with the moon being visible at the time we may be in Iceland. If there is a good strong display then it should not matter if the moon is full or not nor that it is even in the sky, in fact it can enhance the experience. As far as Aurora goes, the Aurora above a moonlit landscape actually enhances it.

​If no moon is visible then we may well see fainter Auroral displays but the best ones are the strong displays which are easily seen.  Mostly we will be observing towards the North in all likelihood anyway but like with all things natural we can’t always predict when the Aurora will occur. Rest assured though, we will check the prevailing conditions and we will put you in the right place at the right time to maximise your chances of seeing it.
 
If you have any questions then I am here to help
 
Takk
 
Andy