The more sunspots, the more solar flare energy is being released into space (which means more aurora activity!). The sun has a heartbeat. Head to the PEI National Park on the north side of the island and watch the aurora borealis dazzle over the Atlantic Ocean. If you want to see this incredible phenomenon for yourself, book a trip to one of these Canadian destinations. Time your visit to coincide with the annual Perseid meteor shower in August and you’re potentially in for a double feature. If you're wondering where to see the northern lights without dealing with the crowds, check out Alaska or Lapland. Located on the 56th parallel, Canada’s energy capital sits under the auroral zone. Being... 3. Northern Lights Palace. 1,897 people follow this. There's a ferry, but I really don't fancy those stormy winter seas! Though much of the territory sits north the auroral zone, there is very little light pollution to impede the view. Prince Edward Island National Park, Prince Edward Island. Saskatchewan has some of the best skies: they are vast, open, full of life and notably dark. The northern lights are a natural phenomenon that you can witness at far northerly latitudes. However, this is also why I’m confident in its inclusion — I know from firsthand experience that it’s a beautiful year-round setting to view the northern lights.). 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. Scott Sutherland Meteorologist/Science Writer Thursday, December 10th 2020, 12:10 pm - … Alberta is one of the best provinces in Canada for seeing the northern lights because vast stretches of land... British Colombia. Or, visit Melfort, in the province’s northeast, to see if it lives up to its nickname, “the city of the northern lights”. is that yes, you … Perhaps the closest dark sky to Toronto, the Torrance Barrens Night Sky Preserve is the place for southern Ontarian urbanites to take in the beauty of the night sky. AuroraMAX, a five-year educational project, broadcasts the northern lights displays above Yellowknife online. With a location under the “ auroral zone” the lights are best viewed from January to March. There are many places in Canada to spot the Northern Lights because of the country’s latitude. From Iceland to Alaska, explore 11 of the best places around the world to see the Northern Lights The aurora borealis is a unique celestial display caused by charged particles from the … or. Unfortunately, Athabasca University’s two geophysical observatories aren’t open to the public, so you’re on your own here. Get away from the city’s light pollution and view the dramatic display from yurts and lodges or, for a real treat, combine northern lights viewing with a soak in the Takhini Hotsprings, just 20 minutes from the capital. According to local myth, the island is home to Gitche Manitou. Kejimkujik, a Dark Sky Preserve, and Tobeatic have the darkest skies in the province, a crucial factor when trying to view the northern lights this far south. See an amazing phenomenon of the natural world. … Translation: This is the place to go if you’d prefer not to camp out in the snow to see the lights, since they’re visible year-round. A lack of light pollution and prime positioning directly under the southern edge of the auroral oval places Athabasca in an optimal position to observe auroral substorm activity. Battle Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador. Northern Saskatchewan. Log In. Seeing the Northern Lights in Finland – Flickr by Carston Frenzi. The skies across the country will light up with the breathtaking colours of the aurora borealis during the solar maximum this year. The nearby Trout Point Lodge has an astronomer on staff to take guests stargazing and alert them of northern lights displays. With a population of... 2. During the winter, you won’t even have to head out of the city see the lights, which are often vivid. There are 12 tours to choose from, that range in length from 3 days up to 17 days. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. These tiny structures, which can be found throughout Yellowknife’s city limits, are equipped with LEDs that alert visitors when aurora borealis is expected in the forecast. Map instructions The best places to see northern lights. With eleven provincial parks north of Saskatoon, many open year-round, there are plenty of places to tilt back your head and enjoy the action in the sky above. Alternately, Fort McMurray has a growing list of tour operators offering aurora excursions geared to photographers. A welcome email is on its way. Tobeatic Wilderness Reserve and Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia. To see the northern lights in British Columbia, you’ll need to get away from more than the city. Jeanine Holowatuik has a passion for capturing images of the northern lights. It’s not uncommon to see the northern lights dancing above Iqaluit, Nunavut – when the sun sets, that is. © 2021 Canada.com, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Can’t make it to Yellowknife? Even scientists agree this is a great spot to view the northern lights. The northern lights even makes an appearance on nights of strong geomagnetic activity. Where to See the Northern Lights in Ontario. Athabasca University's Geophysical Observatory isn’t open to the public, however. (Photo: Michael Boschat). With a population of less than 150,000, there’s little light pollution to hinder the view. Best place to see northern lights. Top Things to Do in Saskatchewan, Canada: See Tripadvisor's 148,517 traveller reviews and photos of Saskatchewan tourist attractions. Instead, visit surrounding areas like Fish Lake and Chadburn Lake Road for enough darkness. Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, is one of the top northern lights tourism destinations, and with good reason. Unlike the other territories, though, Nunavut has little to no aurora tourism infrastructure. In fact, scientists from around the globe flock to the town of 850, famed for polar bears, to study the aurora. If you like the thought of combining a trip to see polar bears along with the Northern Lights, then head up to Churchill, Manitoba. 1,550 check-ins. Stake out your spot on one of the resort’s heated viewing seats, but don’t expect to wait long — over a three-day stay, you have a 95 per cent chance of seeing the lights. Best places to view northern lights. Frontiers North Adventures offers a northern lights package, where visitors can view from a custom Aurora Lounge, situated far from any light pollution. We travelled to Rovaniemi last winter with a mission: to see the Northern Lights. Waskesiu-Prince Albert National Park is one of the best places to view the phenomenon, with obstruction-free views located at South Bay or Paignton Beach. Not Now . Though the light display is visible across the territory, most northern lights tourism companies are based in Whitehorse. Watch the lights reflect off of Muncho Lake at the Northern Rockies Lodge — open year round. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. This restored village and national historic site provides a quaint foreground to your northern lights photography. For a unique northern lights viewing experience, visit the Cree Village Ecolodge in Moose Factory, Ontario. These are the best places to see the northern lights in 2020. If learning about the science and folklore of the natural phenomenon is more your style, head to Watson Lake, Yukon to check out the Northern Lights Space & Science Centre, open year-round. If you want to stay closer to a major international airport, your best bet is Edmonton. By Nat at Love and Road. Even Canada’s smallest province has visible displays of the northern lights on nights with strong geomagnetic activity. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. See more of Northern Lights Palace on Facebook. The best places to see the northern lights in Canada . The short (and somewhat surprising answer!) Every eleven years or so it beats, and it beats hard. The Blachford Lake Lodge is located in the middle of Lake Blachford, not far from Yellowknife, one of the best places to see northern lights in Canada. From polar bears to northern lights, this town is has a bit of everything for tourists looking for a taste of the North. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Athabasca County, Alberta is home to one of just 18 stations in North America studying the magnetic effects of the aurora borealis. To see the Northern Lights in British Columbia, you have to head far away from Vancouver.Northern BC is the best place to view them, in places such as Muncho Lake Provincial Park. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. 1. When you see the northern lights dancing overhead, it is a sign that the Great Spirit is home. Compared to some of the other destinations on this list, Churchill is well equipped to handle tourists seeking out the lights. Browse the pictures of Saskatoon, Regina, and rural Saskatchewan. Can you see the Northern Lights in Switzerland . The next issue of Canada.com Newsletter will soon be in your inbox. 1,832 people like this. Finding out if there will be auroral activity is as simple as locating one of the city’s five Northern Lighthouses. However, Yellowknife is far enough north that it’s best to visit between mid-November and April, when the nights are long and dark. Try out one of several northern lights tourist operators in Fort McMurray, Alberta or take in the view on your own. Find a Northern Lights tour that explores Canada. (Photo: courtesy of Northwest Territories Tourism), A ghostly glow peaks through the clouds over a plot of land in Fort McMurray, Alberta. If adventure catches your fancy, Paws and Paddles Wilderness Tours in Air Ronge, Saskatchewan offers dogsledding northern lights tours. Public Swimming Pool in Melfort, Saskatchewan. The northern lights as seen 27 km northwest of Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan. A sparse population, a flat, arid landscape and clear skies all add up to extreme likelihood you’ll spot the northern lights in the Northwest Territories. Still a chance to see the Northern Lights across parts of Canada tonight. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. View the northern lights while dogsledding or from a hot tub through one of many northern lights tourism companies or head out around midnight to the nearest hill to take in the breathtaking display. Please try again. Canada is one of the best places on the planet to see the Northern Lights and Ontario, in the country’s east, is no exception. To top itall, western Greenland features scenery that becomes some of the mostspectacul… Mia Gordon Reporter, British Columbia Thursday, December 3rd 2020, 10:25 am - The northern lights can … Taking a trip to Yellowknife, however, will let you spot this natural phenomenon at a place called Aurora Village! We encountered an issue signing you up. The western and northwestern coasts of thisautonomous Danish region are within the aurora oval and hence offer the bestviews of the Lights. (Photo: Alanna Dumonceaux), Photo: Miriam Körner, www.pawsandpaddles.com, Photo: Satoru Seki, courtesy of Travel Manitoba, Photo: Mandy Poole, courtesy Destination Labrador, Photo: G. Mark Lane, courtesy Destination Labrador, The northern lights from the roof of a Halifax apartment. Simply put, the skies dance with colour when particles electrically charged by the sun interact with the Earth’s magnetosphere. If you’re on a budget, the Churchill Northern Studies Centre — an operational research centre — offers affordable rooms and observation decks. Here are some of the best spots to catch the view. Find here the best … The northern lights can be seen in numerous destinations located near the Arctic! Come for the polar bears, stay for the northern lights. Home to one of the heaviest concentrations of aurora, Churchill is one of the top three places in the world to view the northern lights and January through March is the best time to go. Luckily, contrary to popular belief, witnessing aurora borealis doesn’t have to mean heading to the far north or camping out in arctic conditions. Mar 31, 2013 - Saskatchewan"s Northern Lights. You won’t find this northern Albertan city on many “best of” lists, so I almost feel like I’m spoiling the secret by including it here. Muncho Lake Provincial Park is a convenient and picturesque stop along the Alaska Highway that crosses northern British Columbia. Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Plus, with dark skies just a short drive away, Edmontonians and visitors have many opportunities to catch the view on clear nights. Watch the northern lights reflect off the water from this idyllic island in the northern part of Lake Huron. Book into the Waterfront Harbour Bed & Breakfast to watch the light show over the lake from the comfort of your room. Its summit offers an amazing view, along with almost complete darkness. Tourism Saskatchewan. Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. Kuujjuaq, Quebec, on the west shore of the Koksoak River, is the largest village in the region. They even have heated facilities to help you stay outside longer. This makes our province a fantastic place to view the stars and watch them come alive when northern lights are active. They don’t call Saskatchewan “land of the living skies” without good reason. Visit the village for the sea-run trout fishing or the caribou hunting, but don’t forget to look up at the stunning aurora borealis displays overhead. By Gwen Pratesi, Contributor Sept. 9, 2019. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The best spots to catch the Northern Lights in Canada Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Twitter captured the excitement last October when the aurora borealis made a stunning appearance over the skyscrapers of Edmonton. Most of Nunavik, the northern region of Quebec, is situated beneath the auroral oval. If they’re flashing red, prepare for a nighttime show. Churchill, Manitoba – one of the top places to see Northern Lights in Canada. Visitors to the territory must find their own way to enjoy the natural phenomenon. The best way is by plane from either Bergen in Norway or several airports in Scotland. Since settlements aresmall, even urban lights do not dampen the sharpness of the display. Learn about Cree culture during the day, then spend your nights taking in the breathtaking aurora borealis from the dock on the Moose River. Gree Northern Lights Scotland- the Shetland Isles. This town on the Trans-Labrador Highway is a great spot for viewing the aurora borealis in eastern Canada. This south-eastern Canadian province may not top any list of northern lights hotspots, but the view at Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site and the adjoining Tobeatic Wilderness Reserve shouldn’t be underestimated. A recognized Dark Sky Preserve, this is where photographers flock when the forecast calls for dancing skies. Torrance Barrens Night Sky Preserve, Ontario. They don’t call Saskatchewan “land of the living skies” without good reason. We have reviews of the best places to see in Saskatchewan. Being located at the southern edge of the auroral oval also puts communities like Prince Albert at a major advantage — it’s far enough north that the lights are visible, but far enough south that it still gets dark during summer nights. While the natural wonder known as the northern lights or the Aurora Borealis can be seen throughout all of Manitoba, Churchill experiences the phenomenon nearly 300 nights a year. Or, check in to the Aurora Village. 4.8 out of 5 stars. Historical View of the sun spotsFor 400 years, from the time of Galileo until now, we have been keeping track of the number of these sunspots and, … Sparsely populated Greenland is covered by unpolluted, clearskies for the entire aurora season from August to April.