VIEWING THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
IN THE SUBARCTIC AT HUDSON BAY
MARCH 15, 2015
aurora aura
dances in the northern sky...
rainbows of the night
dances in the northern sky...
rainbows of the night
It started with a wisp of green paint above the stark trees, on a star filled canvas of blue-black... somewhat faint... then the sky burst forth with one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world, the Aurora Borealis. It was a breathtaking display of green and purple curtains of light performing dances against a star-studded sky... dances that amazed, energized and astounded us. No two displays were ever the same and they varied in intensity. The beauty of solar particles crashing into the earth's magnetic field was positively mesmerizing!
Michael and I were wowed by the Lights in Manitoba, Canada... Churchill, to be specific.
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| Churchill airport |
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| The main street in Churchill, a town of 800 residents |
It's a desolately beautiful place with a landscape of either tundra or arboreal forest.
We were in Churchill more than 10 years ago to see the polar bears and experienced a bit of the Aurora then. We spent about a week in temperatures hovering around minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit, but we were dressed for it and it was oh, so worth it!! We experienced the Northern Lights, went for dog sled rides, built an igloo, ate great food and had a marvelous time.
The best way to explain it all is through my photos...
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| Night of a full moon |
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| These sled dogs are bred as athletes and they're at the top of their game. They LOVE to run...this guy is one of several just yelping to get going! |
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This was our normal attire, not just for sled rides. The only part of us that got cold were our fingers while taking photos...tough to change and adjust camera settings manually!
The First Nation people who experience the Lights believe that they're dancing human spirits of those who have passed or the spirits of the animals they've hunted...deer, seals, salmon and beluga whales. Of course, there are numerous legends and myths created out of fear, awe and just plain admiration. I believe that the Lights are like a missive from the Sun and a bridge between us and the ancient peoples who have been mystified by the them for thousands of years.
curtains of light
shimmer in the wintery cold...
flights of fancy
That's it for now. Thanks for stopping by...please stop by again.
Stay well...
Big Hugs,
abbyj
