NASA predicts that the winters of 2012 and 2013 will offer the brightest displays of the Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis, to be seen for 50 years, making this winter an ideal time to travel to Sweden for a winter holiday such as our Northern Lights Dog Sledding in Lapland or Discover Dog Sledding in Lapland tours.
Photo: Will Woodhouse
Orvar Thorgiersson, an Icelandic photographer with a special interest in the Northern Lights, says “2012 will be the best, brightest and most dramatic opportunity to view the aurora in a long time”.
Photo: M. Rullander
Northern Lights displays are thought to be linked to an average 11-year solar cycle between Solar Maximum. The year 2000 saw the last Solar Maximum and that in 2012 this will reach a peak to make auroras the most intense since 1958, when the Aurora was even seen in Mexico! Scientists predict that the Northern Lights may appear as far south as Rome or further.
Photo: M. Rullander
The average intensity of the Northern Lights, which are caused by the interaction between the Earth’s atmosphere and charged particles from the sun, has been on the increase since 2007, and the predicted rise in activity during 2012 is attributed to the Solar Maximum, the increased rotation speed of the sun’s magnetic field on the solar equator relative to its poles.
Photo: Will Woodhouse
In addition to dog sledding, Nature Travels offers a wide variety of ways to enjoy the beauty of winter in the far north of Sweden. Why not try a ski touring expedition or even reindeer sledding, a unique alternative to travelling by dogsled?
All our experiences in Swedish Lapland take place in remote areas away from light pollution, giving you very good chances to see a spectacular display of the Northern Lights.
Of course, the Aurora is a natural phenomenon and even with the increased activity predicted for 2012-2013 displays can never be guaranteed. But the excitement of winter activities such as dog sledding and ski touring and the very special atmosphere of the Arctic winter are more than enough to tempt you above the Arctic Circle, with a display of the Northern Lights as a breathtaking bonus!
Best regards
The Nature Travels Team
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