Northern lights in Russia: the whole palette of colors in the winter sky

This beautiful phenomenon is also called the “dance of light”. In heaven, it is as if someone is sketching a sketch for an impressionist painting. And then he changes the perspective, adds new colors, bends, zigzags and aspirations to infinity. The Northern Lights in Russia are the whole palette of colors in the sky.

They say that the phenomenon was first described by Galileo Galilei at the beginning of the 17th century. There is also a legend that before the battle with the German knights in 1242, Alexander Nevsky and his army saw the northern lights in the sky and considered it a good sign. The outcome of the battle is known: the Germans fled from the battlefield, and the day of the end of the battle (the famous Battle on the Ice) is now celebrated as one of the Days of Russia’s Military Glory.

Nowadays, to go and see the northern lights in Russia has become a romantic dream for many tourists. Where and when to go to admire the heavenly light music?

When does the northern lights start in Russia

You can see this beauty in our country from the end of August to March. But it is better – in winter, in good calm and cloudless weather, so that the clouds do not obscure the paint show. The time of the “performance” is approximately from 10 pm to 3 am.

After the vernal equinox – the 20th of March – it is already problematic to watch the “dance of light”. The day is getting longer, the sun is getting bigger. However, snowstorms also do not contribute to looking at the multicolored sky.

What cities are the northern lights in Russia

Murmansk, Kola Peninsula: August to April.

It is better to “hunt” for the northern lights about 30-50 kilometers from the city itself – where the sky is freer from both industrial emissions and city lighting. For example, in Teriberka, which became famous throughout the country thanks to the sensational film by Andrey Zvyagintsev “Leviathan”. And also Teriberka is the only place in the European part of Russia where you can reach by car to see the open Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean.

Khibiny, Kola Peninsula: from August to April.

Auroras happen here almost all year round, except for the period of the polar day, when there is no dark time of the day. The Khibiny mountains rise above the cities, so the sky here is clear, unclouded by industrial exhaust. There are more chances to see the whole palette of colors above you. Plus you can go skiing or snowboarding in the beautiful ski resorts of Kirovsk.

Karelia: December – early March.

It is better to observe the glow not in Petrozavodsk, where, as in any big city, only “echoes” of the glow are visible, but somewhere in the distance. For example, in the Paanajärvi National Park or in the town of Kostomuksha, next to which there is a beautiful nature reserve and a village in which the world famous Kalevala epic was created. However, one must bear in mind: the roads in this part of Karelia are not in the best condition.

Arkhangelsk: in the period between the autumn and spring equinox (20th of September and 20th of March).

And in the afternoon you can take a walk around this old Russian city. See Gostiny Dvor of the 17th century (at that time it was one of the main trade points of the country) on the chic embankment of the Northern Dvina. Or the first stone bastion fortress in Russia – Novodvinskaya, which played an important role in the victory of Peter the Great over the Swedes.

Komi Republic: from August to March.

There are two options here: Vorkuta (this is to the north, 68th parallel) and Syktyvkar (to the south, which means it is warmer; 61st parallel, which is also called “golden”, because it runs almost halfway between the North Pole and the equator). But in Vorkuta, there are more chances to catch the brightest glow.

Chukotka: from late August to April.

The best time is still in winter, because there is a polar night here for 42 days, on which, in calm weather, it is good to watch the radiance.