How to Catch the Northern Lights in Latvia?
The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis (Ziemeļblāzma in Latvian), is a spectacular natural phenomenon that isn't an everyday occurrence in Latvia. However, over the last few years, sightings of the Northern Lights have become more frequent in the Latvian sky. With the availability of monitoring tools and applications, the chances of witnessing this breathtaking display have significantly increased.
The Northern Lights are intricately connected to solar storms on the Sun, and this phenomenon follows a cyclic activity pattern, peaking approximately every 10 years. This winter, there has been a notable increase in solar storm activity, enhancing the likelihood of capturing the Northern Lights in the Latvian night sky.
Capturing the Northern Lights in Latvia requires some preparation and patience. To increase your chances of witnessing this mesmerizing natural phenomenon, it's essential to stay informed and plan accordingly. I recommend starting regularly checking the Aurora forecast using available apps and websites, which provide real-time information about Northern Lights activity in your location. Choose the right time for your expedition – clear winter sky without any clouds is a must. Going outside of the cities to avoid light pollution is very important – the chances to see the lights in the middle of Riga unfortunately are close to zero, but if you go to the seaside, away from the city rush the chances are much higher.
Source: Kārlis Liepiņš
Patience is key when it comes to Northern Lights hunting. Spend a considerable amount of time outdoors, as displays may not occur immediately. Check the forecasts, they predict the best time for visibility, and sometimes it can be really late in the night. So don’t forget to dress warmly in layers to endure the cold winter nights in Latvia. Bring hot tea and snacks with you. And what we can say from experience – gloves are essential, because you will want to take pictures, and that requires patience – the best option is to wear two layers of gloves and the inner ones are touchscreen winter gloves.
For photography enthusiasts, use the right equipment, including a camera with manual settings, a sturdy tripod, and a wide-angle lens. Adjust your camera settings to a high ISO and a slow shutter speed for optimal results – Northern lights can be seen with the naked eye, but any modern smartphone camera will capture them and enhance the experience.
While capturing the Northern Lights is exhilarating, take a moment to enjoy the experience without the lens. Witnessing this natural wonder is a unique and awe-inspiring event that transcends the photographic frame. This might be a once-in-a-lifetime view, so be patient, enjoy the moment, and don’t drop your hopes if the first time is unsuccessful, try again, we have enough winter ahead of us. I wish you luck capturing the magical Northern Lights in the Latvian night sky.
Vita, OLS Community Manager - Latvian