Atlantica - 01.12.2004, Page 32

HOTEL RANGA
Located only 96 km from Reykjavik,
Hotel Ranga is nestled along the East
Rangá River, in the historic region
made famous in Njáls Saga, a perfect
location for star gazing. Here, one
can sit outside in a hot pot, listen to
the river trickle past while staring up
at the stars watching massive swirls
of Northern Lights stretch through
the sky.
REYDARFJÐRDUR
Spending time in the Reydarfjordur
area is like loitering at the end of the
world. But spying up between the
narrow of mountains encircling the
fjords will reward you with a light
show you’ll never forget, and one
you’ll always return to.
SKAGAFJÐRDUR
According to one frequent visitor to
the northern fjord, when the condi-
tions are just right, the aurora borea-
lis runs the color spectrum from
green to violet. Time for a trip north.
TJÖRNES
They didn’t build an observatory on
this northern peninsula near Húsavík
to monitor the Northern Lights
for nothing. Travel to Tjörnes and
you can nearly reach for the Arctic
Circle. And stop by the station at
Mánárbakki where they have set up
special instruments to view the auro-
ra during the day.
T H E P E A R L
For those unable to motor out into
the countryside to escape the bright
lights of Reykjavík, you’re in luck.
The Northern Lights can be seen
in Reykjavík, although the clarity is
affected by the strands of city lights.
So, head up to the Pearl, which
sits atop Öskjuhlíð hill. Here you’re
above the city, and the aurora borea-
lis glows strong.
It’s said that 90 percent of
all northern lights displays
are seen around the Arctic
Circle, good news for those
of us in Iceland, bad news
for those living in, say,
Florida. Naturally, tourists
from around the world trip
to Iceland to witness the
green phosphorescent lights
streaming across the coal-
black sky. If you travel great
distances to see the Northern
Lights, you obviously want to
get your money’s worth.
So where are the best places
in Iceland to watch the sky
show?
“There are no best places
to see the Northern Lights,”
e x c l a i m s a s t r o n o m e r
Thorsteinn Sæmundsson,
Iceland’s foremost expert on
the celestial event. According
to professor Sæmundsson,
you only need to get away
from the lights of the city to
clearly witness the Northern
Lights.
Placing the cold calculus of
science aside, there are most
certainly numerous enchant-
ing locations to watch the
primal ghost dance that is the
aurora borealis.
FINDING NORTHERN LIGHTS
PHOTO BY PÁLL STEFÁNSSON
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