Common occurrences in the Polar Regions, the auroras or aurorae, are one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Popular in various folklores as everything, from being spirits of the dead, to mystic dragons that seduced women in the absence of their husbands; auroras are one of the most exquisite displays of Mother Nature.

Alaska, United States

Image Source

Formally known as aurora borealis; the aurorae are named after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for north wind, Boreas. They’re popularly known as the northern polar lights in the north, and the aurora australis or southern polar lights in the south.

Finland

Image Source

The auroras are produced by the collision of charged particles from Earth’s magnetosphere, with the atoms and molecules of Earth’s upper atmosphere, which is about 50miles (80 kilometers) above the surface of the earth.

Iceland

Image Source

Most of aurorae are green and red, a result of the emissions from atomic oxygen. Molecular nitrogen and nitrogen ions produce some colors ranging from low level red to very high blue/violet. The pale blue colors are produced by ionic nitrogen and the neutral nitrogen gives off the red and purple colors with the rippled edges.

Iceland

Most of them appear as long winding trails or curtains of glow. At other times, they form inactive “arcs”; or “active aurora”, that move and change constantly. Each trial consists of many parallel rays; each ray due to the influence of the earth’s magnetic field is parallel to the corresponding magnetic deviation.

Image Source Although they’re a common occurrence at the Poles, they’re occasionally seen at temperate latitudes. This usually happened when a strong magnetic storm temporarily expands the auroral oval. The auroras are most likely to occur between September to October and from March to April

Mosfellsheiði, Iceland

Image Source

The Sami people believed that the northern lights or guovssahasat, would descend from the heavens and kill anyone who mocked or sang songs about them. People were advised to stay quite and calm during the observance of polar lights.

In Latvian folklore, the northern lights, especially when they were red and observed in winters, are believed to be the fighting souls of dead warriors; which is an omen foretelling disaster.

In Russian folklore, aurora borealis was associated with the fire dragon  or Ognenniy Zmey, who came to women and seduced them in the absence of their husbands.

Many prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush believed that the Northern Lights were the reflection of the mother lode of all gold.

Iceland

Image Source

Aurore are one of the most elegant displays of nature, although it’s hard to imagine the pure wonder of the polar lights without actually experiencing them; these pictures try and do justice to the pure beauty of the eternal phenomenon…

Image Source

Image Source

Image Source