|
Winter time is polar light
time! The hunt for Aurora borealis is opened from 10th to 20th of
February 2012 in Tromsø/Norway.
The vikings believed that
the polar light was the sign for the presence of the Angels of Death
(Walküren) searching the dead heroes slaughtered on a battlefield
somewhere. Their suits of golden armour reflected the moonlight and
created this strange light on the firmament.
Science is able to explain
the appearance of polar lights nowadays. High energetic particles of the
solar wind strike on the earth atmosphere and change the electronic
configuration of air molecules. After a short while the molecules are
disexcited and emit light.
Whatever you believe the
phenomenon of polar lights will fascinate you anyway!
Tromsø is located in
Norway, 344 km above the Polar Circle (69°39' N 18°59' E) and is the
northernmost medium-sized city of the world (68,377 inhabitants/1st of
Jan. 2011). But this is not enough with superlatives. Tromsø has the
northernmost university, northernmost cathedral and northernmost brewery
of the world and was historically an important starting point of several
famous polar expeditions (Roald Amundsen, Fridtjof Nansen).
The climate in Tromsø is
despite of its high latitude quite moderate. The Gulf Stream mitigates the
usual low temperatures in such high latitudes. The mean annual temperature
is +2.5°C. The temperature rarely rises over 20°C in summer and barely
decreases under -10°C during winter. There is no sunrise in Tromsø between
the 26th of November and 21st of January. The polar night, however, is not
dark. There is light which is similar during twilight at lower latitudes1.
Fotographs appreciate this deep blue light for expressive landscape
pictures. During the period of our stay we have to expect a temperature
between -2.5 and -6.5°C and a daylength between 6 and 8 hours (sunrise to
sunset).
Tourist attractions in
Tromsø are the Polaria,
the
Polar Museum and the
Ishavskatedralen,
The cottage is located 65 km in the North of Tromsø
on the island Ringvassøya, close to the village Dåfjord, along the
Dåfjorden. Stores and a gas station is in Hansnes (~15 km in the east of
Dåfjord). There is also a ferry service to the islands Karlsøya, Vanna and
Reinøya. 35 km in the northwest of Dåfjord a ferry operates between
Ringyassøya and the island Rebbenesøya. I think there are many good
locations with a fantastic view to the North without almost no artificial
light disturbance to take expressive polar light pictures. Thus, let's
hope for a clear sky and an active polar light performance! Lykke til!
Sources: 1.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troms%C3%B8 |
