Seeing the Northern Lights in person is one of the most incredible, awe-inspiring experiences you’ll ever have. I was lucky enough to see an incredible display during a trip to Iceland in 2017, and while it totally took my breath away, I’m still not satisfied. That’s why I’ve added seeing the Southern Lights to my bucket list and you should too.
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- The Southern Lights are also known as Aurora Australis. The Northern Lights are known as Aurora Borealis, in case you forgot. Word on the street is that as impressive as the Northern Lights are, the Southern version is even more incredible.
- You’ll have to be incredibly fortunate to catch a glimpse of the Southern Lights. While there have to be some solid conditions that line up to see Aurora Borealis, seeing Aurora Australis is even harder. That’s because you have to go incredibly far south on the planet to even have a chance, and there’s not a whole lot of landmass down there to go to (less than 1/3 of the planet’s land is below the equator, according to Thrillist).
- So what exactly causes this beautiful display? It’s all about solar particles that have been charged bashing into oxygen and nitrogen atoms. When the collision occurs, that’s when the magic happens. There are so many beautiful colors to behold, from fluorescent green to pink, purple, and orange. It’s incredible.
- There are a few places you can visit to try to see them. Thrillist recommends the cities of Ushuaia, Argentina (the southernmost city on the planet!); Invercargill, New Zealand; Stewart Island, New Zealand; South Georgia Island, Antarctica; Punta Arenas, Chile; Tasmania, Australia; and the Falkland Islands, Argentina.
- The Southern Lights are worth pursuing. Your chances of seeing them might be slim, but think of all the incredible things you’ll see and experience along the way? I can’t wait!
