The One Mesmerizing Place In Alaska To See The Northern Lights
By Catherine Armstrong|Published August 07, 2017
×
Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
Alaskans are incredibly lucky to witness the Northern Lights more than most Americans. Though aurora borealis is impossible to predict, one of the best places to experience this natural wonder is Denali National Park And Preserve.
Denali National Park and Preserve is so vast that it's easy to feel small while exploring a portion of its six million acres. Everything in this park is magical - from its sweeping vistas to its wildlife to its night skies.
Denali is one of the best places in the entire country to witness aurora borealis. Because the skies over this remote wilderness are free from light pollution, it's easier to see the phenomenon when it occurs.
While the Northern Lights can be visible year-round, it's only starting in mid-August that we can see them from Alaska. While aurora can be predicted, those predictions are difficult to get accurate, because many factors must occur for it to be visible.
The northern lights occur when bursts of solar wind and (coronal mass ejections) interact with the magnetic and electrical forces in the earth's atmosphere. This can happen as often as three times per day. When the sky is clear at night, and conditions are dark enough, you can view the Northern Lights when they occur.
When conditions are right, you can also view the aurora from Fairbanks or Anchorage. Where have you seen the northern lights in Alaska? Share your tips with our readers!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.