Facts and Legends Breathtaking views from the observation deck


■ The Aurora Borealis is most commonly seen in the polar regions, usually within a radius of 2,500 km around the magnetic poles. This area is known as the auroral zone.


Hunting the Lights ...the Hurtigruten way


■


On a Hurtigruten voyage, we are constantly “hunting the light”. You'll be sailing within the auroral oval which off ers better and more chances of catching this mesmerising light show than land-based trips.


■


You’ll be best placed to see the Aurora Borealis in its full glory on board Hurtigruten's smaller, low-lit ships along the sheltered Norwegian coast and, without the disruption of artifi cial ambient light.


■


Enjoy unparalleled views of the Northern Lights from the comfort of the ship’s observation decks or inside the ship’s panoramic lounge with fl oor-to-ceiling windows.


■


Our onboard Northern Lights announcements will advise you as soon as there’s a sighting so there’s no chance of you missing them.


■ The Northern Lights can appear in many diff erent forms from scattered patches of diff use light to arcs, bands, beams or rippling curtains of light. Like snowfl akes, no two aurora sightings are the same.


■ It’s a phenomenon that occurs when electrically- charged particles originating from the Sun’s outer atmosphere disrupt the Earth's magnetic fi eld. As these particles collide with oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere, they react to produce the aurora.


■ Norse legend has it that the Northern Lights form the Bifrost Bridge – the rainbow bridge that connected Asgard (the realm of the Norse gods) with Midgard (the human realm).


■ Others believed the lights were refl ections from the weapons and armour of the Valkyries, the female warriors who decided who would enter Valhalla.


■ The indigenous Sámi people believe that if you gaze at the Northern Lights with your mouth open, the night spirits will enter your body to claim your soul.


© Ørjan Bertelsen


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52