Can I see the northern lights in Arctic Canada?

The Northern lights, or Aurora Borealis, are basically one huge fantastic light show put on by nature, changing colour depending on the gases in the atmosphere! 

It can be seen in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, in the South it is called the Southern Lights, or Aurora australis. This is because the solar wind particles needed are pulled into place by the magnetic fields in the poles (without going into too much technical detail). Churchill is directly under the Auroral Oval, meaning it is one of the best places in the world to see this unique phenomenon.

Whether you see the northern lights and how clear they are depends on a few factors. The night needs to be clear; whether or not there is auroral activity is irrelevant if there are clouds obscuring your view. Summer (May, June and July) is not a great time to see them as it is just too bright, late winter and early spring is better.. It also depends on the solar wind and the gases in the atmosphere, but we won’t go into detail on that! 

Our polar bear safari expeditions run in the summer months, this is when the wildlife is at its best, so you are less likely to see the Northern Lights. It may still be possible to see them in towns such as Churchill, which are a little further south. If you really want to see the Northern Lights, we can arrange an expedition in the right place at the right time to maximise your chances. Make sure you contact us.