The world’s best Aurora in Canada’s Northwest Territories

Aurora in the Northwest Territories - Credit: Chris Kelly Photography

"The Lights are out!" A cry of delight echoes through remote lodges or busy Yellowknife restaurants, sending everyone scurrying for the exits with their parkas half-zipped and their cameras whirring to life. Above, a phosphorescent fog floats in the ink-black sky. It creeps across the dome of the night, gaining intensity, flickering with tendrils of emerald, then jade, like plumes of strange fire. Around you, the evergreens are framed in a weird unearthly gleam. You're gasping and squealing with complete strangers. Don't be embarrassed. You've just witnessed nature's greatest lightshow.

Aurora in the Northwest Territories - Credit: James Mackenzie Photo

The Northwest Territories is the world's Northern Lights mecca. Here, the Aurora dance an average of 240 nights per year. Why are the Northern Lights so frequent in the NWT? Because Canada's subarctic is blessed with crystal-clear nights, ultra-low humidity, and a perfect location directly beneath the Earth's band of maximal Auroral activity – the "Auroral oval."

NWT Aurora in late summer - Credit: Darren Roberts Photography

Seeing Northern Lights in the Northwest Territories is a different experience from seeing them anywhere else. Here, the Northern Lights are the strongest in the world - the colours are brighter, the displays last longer, the movements are more elaborate - all of this creates a world of spectacular dances performed right above us almost every night. More than just brief glimpses of colour in the sky, Northern Lights in the NWT are humbling and otherworldly and fill our open skies with memorable and magical displays. There’s no better place to see the best Aurora in the world than the Northwest Territories.

Aurora Village near Yellowknife - Credit: Adam Pisani

There are two Aurora seasons in the Northwest Territories. There's autumn, when the land and lakes are still warm, and winter, when the lakes are frozen over. Licensed NWT tour operators provide all manner of Northern Lights experiences – from rugged "aurora-hunting" adventures to pampered stays at luxury lodges – giving you a front-row seat to the mysterious, magical and life-affirming cosmic dance.

Further information on the Northwest Territories can be found at www.spectacularnwt.com.