Accessibility Links
Seven Wonders of Canada
Northern Lights, Northern Canada
The aurora borealis is also called the northern lights since it is only visible in the North sky from the Northern Hemisphere. What you see is a bright glow observed in the night sky, usually in the polar zone. The aurora borealis most often occurs from September to October and from March to April.
Audio Nominations
Roger 'Starman' Woloshyn (0:39)
Paul-Victoria (1:01)
RealPlayer is required to listen to audio files. Download the RealPlayer plug-in for your browser.
Email Nominations
Rosemary Love
This phenomena is a quintessential feature that cannot help but mesmerize all who look upon it. I have a stunning series of four photos, taken by my friend Andre Lalonde of Buckingham Quebec, which capture a surreal aurore boreale starting with yellow, green and violet, morphing to tones of purplish red and by the last frame into a deep, rich array of scarlets, rubies and cabarnets - a wonderful capture of a rare event.
Marj Black
50 years ago I went to live in northern Quebec and for the first time saw the Northern Lights. I cannot describe the wonder of seeing them dance across the sky and even hearing the sounds that seem to accompany them. To me, they are the essence of Canada and something of which more people, Canadians and visitors 'from away" should be aware.
Chris Tokarek
My pick would be the Northern Lights. Once when I was in Kirkland Lake I was lucky enough to see them. They were flickering like darts in the sky at night. The colors range from blue and green to white and where like art in the sky.
Robin Lummerding
I am originally form Fort McMurray and I remember fondly the times as a child that I was able to experience the true wonder of watching the lights play and dance in a ballet of ribbons across the sky. Location does not matter in this natural wonder as they can be seen from Whitehorse, Yukon to St. John's, Newfoundland and everywhere else in-between.
Cynthia Thomson
Aurora Borealis... the northern lights in Lake Louise, Alberta. All colors of the spectrum dancing high in the sky on a crisp night. I had never seen them so vibrant nor often as when I was living up by the lake.
Dee Maginley
It was as a young adult that I was graced with the most spectacular aurora borealis I have ever seen. It was late summer, and I was coming out of a friend's house in a small suburb of Saskatoon. We had been marveling at the hummingbirds in the garden when the sky changed. The colors were magnificent, and it was as if they were dancing to the music of a symphony. They were almost graceful in their changing hues, sweeping movements, and subtle transitions. An evening I will never forget. I hope that one day my son will visit Saskatchewan and experience their wonder for himself.
No name
They're unique, luminous and hypnotic in their beauty. There may be excitement for some in the city lights, but the Northern Lights are awe-inspiring.
Gary Peddle
There is nothing more glamorous or spectacular in nature as a cold night in January or February when it's about -40 degrees. The air is still and the sky is clear except for a billion stars and the Northern Lights dancing in the sky. No stimulants are necessary for this brilliant light show of colors dancing and swirling in the sky as if set to music that you can't hear except for the stillness of the night. Once you've seen it, I promise you will never forget it!