In summer, the regions north of the Arctic Circle enjoy between one and two months of Midnight Sun – a very long period of constant daylight. The definition of Midnight Sun is that you can see the centre of the sun when it is located due north. – Thus, the concepts of ‘day’ and ‘night’ become blurred, with nighttime being just a dimmer version of daytime. The light of the Midnight Sun gives the landscape a magical dimension. Hiking in the mountains of Lapland during this remarkable period, not having to worry about what the time is, is a blissful, rare adventure – something you wish everyone could experience at least once in their life.

The Midnight Sun conditions of summer are, of course, balanced by a winter phenomenon called Polar Night. This is when the sun never rises above the horizon, during a 24-hour period. At midday, if the sun is just below the horizon, there might be a few hours of very dim light. So winter is the time to experience the Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis, dancing across the velvet black polar skies – considered by many as one of the most beautiful, spectacular and dramatic sights to be seen upon this planet.

The Northern Lights are formed when electrically charged particles are thrust into the earth´s magnetic field at great speed, propelled by solar winds. Thus, the Northern Lights are best seen near the magnetic poles. The phenomenon appears year round but can only be seen in the black winter skies. In ancient times the visual drama of the Northern Lights generated many myths and legends. In Finnish they call it ”revontulet”, which translates as ”fox fires”, an expression which refers to a legend that the Northern Lights were sparks in the furs of giant foxes. Modern-day observers have described the breathtaking scenery as ”a wounded dragon fighting for its life”. In Lapland during mid-winter, the lights frequently appear in favourable weather conditions. At the Abisko mountain station, for example, one of the most popular sites for Northern Lights viewers, the staff can ”almost guarantee” that a guest staying for a minimum of three nights will see the mighty phenomenon at least once.