[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Hero Section” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Northern lights” subhead=”Sodankyl\u00e4-Sompio is an ideal place to watch and photograph the Northern Lights: the nature is unspoilt and there is little light pollution.” text_orientation=”center” header_fullscreen=”on” header_scroll_down=”on” scroll_down_icon=”%%3%%” button_one_text=”Read more” background_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.29)” admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ title_font=”Reenie Beanie||||||||” title_font_size=”80px” subhead_font_size=”20px” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” background_image=”https:\/\/visitsodankylasompio.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/aurora-pohjankettu.jpg” animation_style=”fade” title_font_size_tablet=”” title_font_size_phone=”48px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” title_line_height_tablet=”” title_line_height_phone=”0.7em” title_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” subhead_font_size_tablet=”” subhead_font_size_phone=”16px” subhead_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_css_title=”-ms-transform: rotate(-5deg); \/* IE 9 *\/|| -webkit-transform: rotate(-5deg); \/* Safari 3-8 *\/|| transform: rotate(-5deg);” custom_css_subtitle=”padding-bottom:5%;” custom_css_button_1=”margin-bottom:10%;” global_colors_info=”{}” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Hero Section” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ min_height=”56.5px” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”60%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_padding=”2px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” min_height=”1263.6px” custom_padding=”8px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Teksti\u00e4” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_padding=”3px||0px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
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The Finnish word for the Northern Lights,\u00a0revontuli<\/em>\u00a0(\u201cfox fire\u201d), refers to a fox. According to the ancient belief recorded by Topelius, the Northern Lights appear when the fire fox runs across the fell and whips the snowdrift with its tail so hard that sparks appear in the sky. Contrary to popular belief, hard frosts do not cause the Northern Lights. However, when the temperatures are very cold the sky is often cloudless, which makes seeing the Northern Lights easier.<\/p>\n Powerful instances of the Northern Lights can even produce audible sounds such as murmurs and bangs. This show of light and sound is an unbelievable experience in the otherwise dim and silent Lapland nature. If you are driving a car: When stopping to watch and photograph the Northern Lights or other nature in Lapland, always leave your car in a safe place where it will not disturb other traffic.<\/p>\n If you are walking: Please do not walk on ice or cross-country skiing tracks!<\/p>\n Looking for organized northern lights hunting trips? Contact Arctic Wonders<\/a>, Feelis-palvelut<\/a>, Taika Lapland<\/a>, Tankavaara Gold Village<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The fire fox makes the Northern Lights happen The Finnish word for the Northern Lights,\u00a0revontuli\u00a0(\u201cfox fire\u201d), refers to a fox. According to the ancient belief recorded by Topelius, the Northern Lights appear when the fire fox runs across the fell and whips the snowdrift with its tail so hard that sparks appear in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":55665,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"project_category":[101],"project_tag":[],"class_list":["post-57380","project","type-project","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","project_category-activities"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitsodankylasompio.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/57380","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitsodankylasompio.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitsodankylasompio.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/project"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitsodankylasompio.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitsodankylasompio.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57380"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/visitsodankylasompio.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/57380\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57387,"href":"https:\/\/visitsodankylasompio.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/57380\/revisions\/57387"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitsodankylasompio.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55665"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitsodankylasompio.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57380"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"project_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitsodankylasompio.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project_category?post=57380"},{"taxonomy":"project_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitsodankylasompio.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project_tag?post=57380"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
The large municipality of Sodankyl\u00e4 is mainly free of light pollution. Even around the city centre, there is so little light pollution that it is possible to observe the Northern Lights there as well. When looking for a place to watch the Northern Lights, please note that it is not safe to go on ice (especially River Kitinen)! Look for a place as spacious and dark as possible, away from light pollution, with unobstructed views of the northern skyline! Within walking distance of the city centre, the best Northern Lights spotting spots are, for example, the Kemij\u00e4rventie bridge and the Pappilanniemi coastal route, which are kept clear of snow. In winter, you can also climb to the top of the sledding hill on the Sports park, which also offers a view!<\/p>\nDid you know?<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n
The Northern Lights can appear and disappear in seconds, but normally their dance lasts a few minutes, even hours, sometimes weakening and sometimes strengthening. When hunting for the Northern Lights, please prepare yourself by dressing warmly.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute\u2019s website<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0the Space Weather Centre<\/a>\u00a0has a Northern Lights forecast which you can follow. If the forecast is good and it\u2019s a beautiful Northern Lights photograph you\u2019re after, try heading for the Lokka dam: there you can photograph the fires of the sky dancing above the lake and the Nattanen fells.
At the start of the winter, before the snow, good Northern Lights photography spots include the Ilmakkiaapa birdwatching tower, the Siurunmaa birdwatching tower and the viewing tower along Paavo\u2019s Path.
While visiting Luosto you have access to\u00a0Aurora Alert Realtime northern lights alarm system<\/a>, free of charge! Other useful Northern Lights applications are\u00a0My Aurora Forecast<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Aurora Labs: Aurora Forecast<\/strong>.
Did you know, that you can learn more about northern lights in Sodankyl\u00e4 all year round? See more details about\u00a0Arctic Academy<\/a>.<\/p>\nPlease note that..<\/i><\/strong><\/h4>\n
Tips for photographing the Northern Lights:<\/h4>\n
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