#4 The Magical Northern Light!

A long cherished wish has come true: visiting & seeing the Northern Light. I crossed the border at the town of Tornio where I got picked up by the organization LappOne . Tornio is a strange city, it is build/designed as you used to build with Lego. Everywhere there are rectangular blocks and straight streets. We got back in the car and an after an hour's drive we arrived in the Finnish part of Lapland. Lapland extends over the most-northern part of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.

The Northern Lights: how does it actually work?

The sun emits electrically charged particles continuously, known as the solar wind. The earth is trying to attract these particles because of the magnetic fields in the ground. Some particles get into the atmosphere through this magnetic field. Electric light particles collide with oxygen atoms and nitrogen molecules that are floating around in the atmosphere. Because of this collision the air particles transmit light at the dark parts of the earth. This causes this magical scene that we can see with our own eyes: Aurora Borealis!

A green spectacle!

Along the way a green strip emerges in the air. Once at the property, I jumped out of the car to witness this spectacle. Immediately I am treated to this magnificent spectacle. The Northern Lights have not been so bright all week just as I visited it exploded! For about 15 minutes long this green light was giving its best show. Perhaps the most beautiful natural phenomenon I have witnessed.

Reindeer meat, tasty or not?

The next day I woke up and there were reindeer next to my hotel. Reindeer provide locals milk, meat, bones and skins. Previously they were used as draft animals but now snowmobiles have taken their place.

Eating at the Saami

The locals are called Saami. Some of the Saami are fully integrated in the Nordic society and their life is only slightly different from other Scandinavians. Nevertheless they commit a significant part of their time to develop their own culture and language. During dinner I got reindeer meat served. It looks like steak and it is surprisingly quite tasty.

What a kick: Snowmobile slide over frozen rivers

A tour by snowmobile gives a beautiful view of the "Torne" river. This river is 510 kilometres long. More than half of this river forms the border between Sweden and Finland. The river is frozen in wintertime. Trucks are using this as a crossing so they do not have to drive to the next bridge. Once at the other side of the border there is an hour time difference between the riverbanks. Very confusing for some children who go to school across the other side of the river/border.

Go with a group of huskies

Although there are snowmobiles everywhere, huskies are still used very often as a mode of transport. In terms of instinct huskies are closer to wolves than to dogs. Some of them kill and eat small animals as soon as the opportunity arises.

The polar circle border!

Within thirty minutes we arrive at the Arctic Circle. This place is symbolic because the exact boundary of the Arctic Circle moves about ten meters each year. A polar circle is a place where the sun does not come up one day per year and does not set one day per year. The number of days per year that the sun rises or sets increases as one travels from the polar circles towards the poles. Between the two polar circles there is one major difference; the Northern Arctic circle runs over land as apposed to the Antarctic circle which mostly runs over water..

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