Canada hosts some of the most spectacular shows of the northern lights, or aurora borealis, in the world. Here are some of the best places to stop and take in the show.
Northwest Territories
The further north you go, the better chance you have to see the light show, and in the Northwest Territories the northern lights are visible in all seasons, about 240 days a year, according to the Northwest Territories Tourism
website. The city of Yellowknife lies in the middle of the Auroral Oval, which is an area that sees a concentration of northern lights activities. It is the best latitude in which to see the show, said Northwest Territories Tourism.
Labrador
Visitors to the
Torngat Mountains National Park in northern Labrador will be able to see the northern lights in one of the most natural settings. The land in the area is still home to Inuit people who offer tours of the area, which include traditional stories and legends, as well as the opportunity to see the light show.
Alberta
Nestled among the Rockies, Jasper National Park boasts one of the world’s largest Dark Sky Preserves. According to the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, a Dark Sky Preserve is an area in which “no artificial lighting is visible, and active measures are in place to educate and promote the reduction of light pollution to the public and nearby municipalities.” Jasper National Park is one of 17 designated Dark Sky Preserves in Canada, and the second-largest in the world.
Manitoba
Churchill, Manitoba prides itself on being “one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights in Canada,” according to the town
website. The location is home to the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, a research and education facility. Visitors can see the northern lights at the centre in a heated plexiglass dome, or on any number of experiences offered by local vendors.
Yukon
Visitors can see the northern lights from various spots in the Yukon. There are also tours available to help people find the right location and time to take in the light show. The key to finding a spectacular view, according to
Travel Yukon, is to find a secluded space away from any urban lights or light pollution. For a truly unique experience, the tourism website suggests watching the lights while soaking in a hot spring at the Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs in Whitehorse.
