The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis have been a source of fascination to people over the centuries. Sweden, being close to the Arctic Circle, has always been among the most suitable locations in the world to witness this natural spectacle. The history of the Northern Lights phenomenon in Sweden, since ancient Sámi mythology, up to more recent Aurora tourism, is not only rich in history, but also strongly tied to geography.
This article discusses the historical sites of the Northern Lights in Sweden, the changes in sightings with solar activity, and the most ideal places where travellers have visited to see the Aurora over the decades.
The Science and History Behind the Northern Lights
The Northern Lights are formed when the sun releases charged particles, which hit the gases in the atmosphere. The sky shines in various colors, depending on the kind of gas, which are green (oxygen at lower altitudes), red (oxygen higher up), or blue and purple (nitrogen).
In the past, this spectacle was explained in a mystical way. The indigenous population of Sweden, the Sámi people, thought the lights were the spirits of the dead and needed to be respected in silence. The Vikings believed that they were the Valkyries taking fallen warriors to Odin. These myths show just how deeply the Northern Lights were embedded in the culture prior to the science being familiar.
Core Locations for the Northern Lights in Sweden
1. Abisko National Park
Abisko has long been regarded as the centre of Aurora viewing in Sweden. The skies here are clear even when the rest of Lapland is cloudy due to its special blue hole microclimate. Scientists and tourists have thronged here since the 20th century and the Aurora Sky Station is now one of the most renowned locations in the world to view the lights.
Why it is historically significant: Abisko has earned a worldwide reputation due to its reliability, and numerous research projects in the field of Aurora have been conducted here.
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2. Kiruna
Kiruna is the northernmost city in Sweden and has long been a destination of Northern Lights hunters. It is a convenient base of expeditions, and in the middle of the last century it was a favorite resort of foreigners, being surrounded by forests, lakes, and mountains. Northern Lights tours are also nowadays accompanied by a visit to the world-famous Icehotel in Jukkasjarvi, just outside the city.
3. Swedish Lapland (Jokkmokk, Porjus, Jukkasjärvi, Luleå)
The wider area of Swedish Lapland – almost a quarter of the nation – has long been able to offer some of the most spectacular scenes of the Aurora. Small towns such as Jokkmokk (with its winter market), Porjus (a silent lakeside village in the UNESCO World Heritage Laponia) and Jukkasjärvi have been cherished Northern Lights sites. Even Lulea, further south, has had visitors who want a combination of urban living and Arctic skies.
4. Occasional Sightings in Southern Sweden
The traditional home of the Aurora was the north, but history knows of occasional sightings far to the south. The lights have been observed in Stockholm and even as far south as Skåne in periods of high solar activity. These phenomena are associated with the highs of the 11-year solar cycle when solar flares are especially intense. It is worth noting that the early 2000s and the next solar maximum in 2025 have heightened the risk of remarkable performances throughout the nation.
When to See the Northern Lights in Sweden
- Season: The Aurora season has traditionally always been the period between September and late March when nights are long and skies dark.
- Best Hours: The highest number of sightings is registered between 6:00 pm and 2:00 am with the highest intensity being registered between 10:00-11:00 pm.
- Solar Cycle Influence: The solar peaks will be the most favourable years and then another solar peak will follow in July 2025 and maybe it will result to better and brighter performances than usual.
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The Northern Lights: Then and Now
The Northern Lights have over the years become not only a mystery that the Sami and Vikings feared and venerated, but also a scientific marvel that has been researched by scientists and today, a tourist attraction that brings thousands of people to Sweden every winter.
- Previously, it was most visible in remote Lapland villages where there was minimal light pollution.
- Today, places such as Abisko, Kiruna, and Porjus are known as the best Aurora viewing places in the world.
- Next time we go into a solar peak, we may be able to see even further south and more Swedes will have an opportunity to see the magic dance of the sky.
The story of the Northern Lights in Sweden is a history of nature, culture and science. The Aurora Borealis remains a source of wonder since the Sami myths in Jokkmokk and the present-day Aurora tours in Abisko and Kiruna. Although northern Sweden is the surest place, we have occasional glimpses in Stockholm and in Skåne to remind us of the mighty forces at work in our solar system.
The Northern Lights is a tourist attraction spot that an adventure traveler would see during his maiden voyage or a Swede would see during his unplanned trip to the area during a solar maximum. The history of the Aurora in Sweden confirms one thing: this is a show that cannot be old.
