Northern Lights in Sweden: the Cold Enchantment of Scandinavian Beauty

Sweden, a country with a rich cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes, is also known for its incredible night skies, especially when it comes to the Northern Lights or aurora borealis. This phenomenon attracts thousands of tourists every year, eager to see one of the most mesmerizing natural performances on Earth. In this article, you will learn about the best conditions and locations to observe the Northern Lights in Sweden.

What Is Aurora?

We owe aurorae to the Sun and the Earth’s magnetic field. As you know, flares constantly occur on the Sun; these flares are accompanied by emissions of charged particles of helium-hydrogen plasma. We call these streams of charged particles the solar wind. When the solar wind reaches the Earth, it collides with the Earth’s magnetosphere, redirecting these flows to the poles, where charged particles collide with molecules and atoms of atmospheric gases (mainly oxygen and nitrogen) and cause the effect of luminescence.

Depending on the gas and the altitude at which it predominates, the glow can be green, blue, red, purple, or violet. This celestial multi-coloured canvas stretches hundreds of kilometres into the air, presenting a uniquely beautiful show.

It is because of the visual similarity between this colourful glow and the first rays of dawn that aurora was named after the Roman goddess of dawn. The phenomenon that we can observe near the North Pole is called the Northern Lights (aurora borealis), and near the South Pole — Southern Lights (aurora australis).

Swedish Legends About Aurora

The Sámi, the Indigenous people of northern Sweden, believed that the heavenly lights (in Swedish norrsken) were the souls of the dead. When they appeared, the Sámi were not supposed to dance, sing or whistle in order to not show disrespect to the dead so that they would not get angry and take them into the afterlife. The Vikings, on the other hand, believed that the lights were Valkyries who carried fallen warriors to the god Odin.

Another legend from the Swedish part of Lapland related to the northern Lights tells about Nynas, the leader of warriors from the kingdom of the dead. Nynas’ warriors live in a common house, and when they fight among themselves, a rainbow glow spreads across the sky. And the fiercer the battle, the brighter and more colourful the light. Fires are the blood of Nynas warriors.

These and other legends reflect the Scandinavian peoples’ attempts to explain the natural phenomenon of the aurora through the prism of their beliefs and cultural traditions.

What Are the Chances of Seeing the Northern Lights in Sweden?

Aurora borealis is best seen in the so-called aurora oval zone, which lies at latitudes above the 60th parallel north. Sweden is located at latitudes of approximately 55° N. to 69°N, making its central and northern regions an excellent place to observe the phenomenon. In addition, during periods of solar maximum, when the solar storm activity is especially high, the auroral oval expands, and aurora borealis in Sweden can be seen almost anywhere. The period of solar maximum occurs once every 11-13 years, and 2024 is exactly the time.

The only caveat is that summer nights are woefully short for aurora watching, though the displays can be brilliant even then. So, if you go to Sweden in the right month, you are highly likely to witness this magnificent celestial show.

What Month Is Best to See the Northern Lights in Sweden?

The best time to see Northern Lights in Sweden is November and winter months. Travel to Sweden between November and February, and you won’t go wrong. At this time, the nights are the longest and darkest, whereas the frosty weather results in clear skies, creating ideal conditions for observing the aurora. However, there have been cases where the earliest aurora borealis in Sweden could be seen in mid-August, and at the latest — in late April.

Best Places to See Aurora in Sweden

Regardless of the country you visit to catch the aurora, you should choose places with the least light pollution and low buildings that will not interfere with your observation. Here are some of the best locations to see Northern Lights in Sweden.

Kiruna 

Kiruna is the country’s northernmost city with a population of only 22,000 people and is the pearl of Swedish Lapland. Kiruna experiences polar day and polar night, making it an attractive destination for tourists who want to witness these unique natural phenomena. The tourism industry here is strong, so there are plenty of ways to get to Kiruna aurora, whether it’s snowshoeing, an adrenaline rush on a snowmobile, a traditional dog sleigh ride or cross-country skiing. From Stockholm, you can get to Kiruna by train in 12 hours or by plane in 1.5 hours.

Abisko 

This village is located in Lapland, two hundred kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, near the Norwegian border. Its main attraction is the national park, which starts from the shores of Torneträsk, one of the largest lakes in Sweden, and extends 15 kilometres to the southwest. Abisko was created in 1909 and is one of Sweden’s oldest national parks. In addition to the unique nature and fauna, there is a research station built in 1903, as well as the 450 km Kungsleden trail, which crosses the entire park and goes further south to the Hemavan ski resort.

Abisko is a tourist mecca in Sweden. The park attracts lovers of cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and other winter sports, offering all the necessary amenities to accommodate tourists, whereas its location near the Arctic Circle makes it an ideal place to observe the Abisko aurora, especially in winter.

Getting to Abisko from Stockholm is easy — you can do it directly by train or car. The trip will take approximately 15 hours. By plane, you can get to Kiruna, from where the journey to the national park takes about one and a half hours.

Jukkasjärvi

If you’re looking not only for an aurora borealis Sweden experience but also want to stay in a world-famous ice hotel, head to the charming village of Jukkasjärvi, located just 20 minutes from Kiruna. The Icehotel is created from the waters of the local Torne River. This unique venue spans 2,100 square metres with 18 art and luxury suites, an ice bar and an event area with an art gallery. The walls, floors, and ceilings are covered with snow and ice, and the temperature is maintained at minus 5 degrees Celsius. The Icehotel only exists only from December to April, after which it melts away, but is reborn in a new form every year, carefully hand-carved by some 40 artists from around the world.

The unique combination of living in a block of ice and contemplating the Swedish Lapland aurorae will offer an unforgettable experience.

Can You See the Northern Lights from Stockholm?

The possibility of seeing the lights in the Swedish capital is quite low due to light pollution and geographical location. Stockholm is located at 59 degrees north latitude, and most of the time, aurora is a rare phenomenon there. Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city, is even further south. However, during periods of high geomagnetic activity, the chances of seeing a light show in these cities increase, and this solar cycle has been amazing.

If you find yourself in Stockholm or Gothenburg in late autumn, winter, or early spring, check the aurora forecast, wait for the optimal time, choose a place away from city lights and buildings and wait until astronomical twilight or night (from 20.00 to 02.00). Perhaps, you will get lucky enough to witness aurora borealis Sweden is famous for.

How to Track Northern Lights In Real Time

To monitor the aurora in real-time, you can use several online resources that provide up-to-date auroral activity data and forecasts. Here are the two most popular resources:

• SpaceWeatherLive.com: This site offers real-time auroral activity data and graphs, including Kp index, as well as solar wind speed and density, which are critical to predicting the Northern Lights visibility
• Space Weather Prediction Center NOAA/NWS: provides a 30-minute forecast of aurora location and intensity based on the OVATION model, which can give you a short-term forecast of when and where the aurora may be visible.

These resources will help you determine the best observation time to increase your chances of witnessing this spectacular natural phenomenon.

Can You Hear Aurora Borealis in Sweden?

So, it’s not difficult to see aurora lights in Sweden, especially in winter. But can we hear the aurora? Imagine, yes!

A study conducted in 2016 confirmed that the aurora can produce sound audible to the human ear. Scientists from Aalto University in Finland recorded the sounds of the aurora and, using three microphones placed apart from each other, were able to determine their source. They found that the sounds originated at an altitude of approximately 70 metres from the ground.

The sounds are very subtle, usually around 60 decibels or less, similar to a quiet whisper. They may resemble high-voltage power lines, radio static, or the rustling of autumn leaves. The noises seem to correspond to flashes of light and colour in the aurora as if you were hearing a celestial show in stereo. The sounds are believed to be caused by electromagnetic disturbances in the atmosphere when the impact of solar wind particles on the Earth’s magnetosphere becomes very active.

However, not everyone can hear the sounds of the aurora. You need not only keen hearing, but also patience, calm weather, and a quiet place. And who knows? You might be able to discern a cosmic message in this mysterious whisper.

References And Additional Information:

• What are the Northern Lights? And how can you see them?
  https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-26381685
• Aurora
  https://irishastro.org/aurora-current-conditions/
• Can You Hear the Northern Lights? The Truth About Aurora Sounds https://www.auroracourses.eu/can-you-hear-the-northern-lights
• Northern lights in Sweden
  https://www.swedishtouristassociation.com/northern-lights/
• Auroral Acoustics project – a progress report with a new hypothesis https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304252270_Auroral_Acoustics_project_-_a_progress_report_with_a_new_hypothesis
• Mythology of the Northern
  lights https://www.theaurorazone.com/about-the-aurora/aurora-legends/