Even for the hardiest of travelers, the idea of visiting Alaska in the wintertime can seem a bit daunting. With temperatures that plummet below the zero mark--and stay there for months--and near total darkness 24 hours a day, it may seem that this state has little to offer off season. But as with so many roads less traveled, a visit to Alaska during the wintertime may just surprise you with unexpected treasures.
Many people consider the aurora borealis, or northern lights, to be one of the most fantastic natural sights on earth. Named for the Roman goddess of dawn and the Greek word for north wind, the Aurora Borealis ranges in hue from orange to green to pink, the lights creating vast, undulating rivers of color in the sky. Prime time for viewing these celestial fireworks in Alaska is December through March.
Northern lights are created by electrically charged solar winds that light up gas molecules high above the earth, much the same way that an electric current creates light when run through a tube of neon gas. The Aurora Borealis can occasionally give off enough of an electric charge to cause blackouts on the ground.
The northern lights' displays vary in color and intensity from night to night and place to place. A strong display in one area one night may show nothing the next. Displays can be as short as a few minutes or can last over an hour.
Though scientists haven't yet found an accurate way to predict when the northern lights will appear, the best time to view them is very late at night or very early in the morning when the sky is clear and the air temperature is coldest.
Best viewed near the earth's magnetic pole, the northern lights in Alaska can be seen in several places throughout the state. One of the most popular areas for northern lights Alaska travel is the city of Fairbanks. Fairbanks is not only an ideal location for viewing-it also has the added advantage of offering amenities to visitors that more rural locations can't.
It's usually possible to see the northern lights in any area in Alaska above 60 degrees latitude, away from bright lights and offering a clear view of the sky. Many northern lights viewers begin their Alaska travel in Fairbanks and then drive northward to view more vivid displays.
The northern lights will often start out as a faint white or greenish glow in the sky. In their early stages they are often confused with the light pollution cast by city lights, so you may need to sit and watch them for several minutes to see if they will change. Once they do begin to change they often take on a vertical shape and begin to intensify in color.
Though the majority of Alaska travel takes place during the summer, several tour companies offer Alaska vacations during the winter catering to northern lights viewers. Fairbanks has many lodges and hotels offering winter packages. Several tour companies also offer excursions to higher latitudes for better viewing. The town of Talkeetna in northern Alaska is also a popular northern lights viewing spot.