The Aurora Borealis at Yellowknife

Sparkle is a tame description of the sky full of shimmering, fiery northern lights most clear winter nights over Yellowknife. So reliable is the show, and so accommodating the weather, that this midnight show draws thousands of visitors each winter to spend an hour outside at night, swaddled in down clothing, sometimes at minus 30º C.

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Can You Hear the Lights?

The North's Aboriginal people have many legends about the Aurora Borealis. Some say the lights are the spirits of their ancestors, whispering stories to those who are attuned enough to hear. In fact, yes, the lights can be heard - a magnetometer can detect the "sounds" of the lights – the chattering of millions of excited electrons.

When the air is cool, the vacation action's hot in the Northwest Territories. Choose a dogsledding trip, or try out cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Our winter lodges and outfitters offer great snow season adventures including snowmobiling and aurora watching in the Canadian North. Late winter and spring are the best times for snow season adventure, when the days are growing longer and the sun sparkles on our crisp, clean snow.

Spectacular Winter Sky Watching

Winter Activities

In the Northwest Territories where winter lasts half the year (or more) we’ve found plenty of cool ways to enjoy it. For starters, how about a dog sledding adventure? There’s nothing like the thrill of whooshing along behind a team of eager huskies, snow flying and harnesses jingling. Make it an hour’s jaunt or a weekend long trek. You can even drive the team yourself, once a seasoned musher shows you how.

A Celestial Treat

I was star struck! Auroras, out of all other natural phenomena, are. . . a celestial treat!" NASA Science Officer Don Pettit viewed the aurora over northern Canada from the International Space Station. (His photos and video are on the NASA website )

Tours Under the Aurora

The Science of the Aurora

Location, location, location

The Aurora Borealis is like a doughnut-shaped ring high above the earth around the north magnetic pole. It exists year round, and is visible from space. From the earth, the soft star-like aurora colours are only visible on the darkest nights.

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What Is the Aurora?

The Aurora Borealis is a natural phenomenon that appears along a narrow band circling the magnetic North Pole. Much of the Northwest Territories lies in this auroral zone, where the lights can often be seen directly overhead.