A MAGICAL PLACE

In the period between November 14 and January 29 each year, a remarkable phenomenon occurs on Svalbard – The Polar Night. During these weeks the sun is at least 6 degrees under the horizon and therefore never shines on Spitsbergen.

While the sun is hidden under the horizon, Longyearbyen becomes a magical place lit only by streetlamps, the northern lights and the moon which glitters in the snow. The atmosphere is completely unique, and as you soak in the mystical darkness you will know you are a long way from the beaten track. Don`t forget that during the Polar Night you have double the chance of seeing the Northern Lights!

NORTHERN LIGHTS DAY AND NIGHT

The reindeer kick in the snow to find their fodder, and the foxes slink around in the dark. We will stop and enjoy the scenery, and the guide will serve hot drinks and biscuits. During the stop we may be able to see the impressive Northern Lights, which, due to the Polar Night, are often visable during the daytime hours.

In Svalbard we can see dayside Aurora. This is Northern Lights that occur during the day. Typical features of the dayside aurora is that they are less intense than nightside aurora. This is because the particles that enter directly are slow and have less energy, than those coming in from the nightside. The dayside aurora appears green to the naked eye, but in reality it is red. However, the human eye is much less sensitive to red than green light, so seing the red light with the naked eye is very rare. Cameras, on the other hand, can capture it!