Seeing the northern lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, is something that many people dream of achieving in their lifetime. It seems 2012 will be a good year to realise such a dream, as NASA scientists predict the brightest northern lights display for 50 years.
The event will be caused by the Solar Maximum - a period when the sun's magnetic field on the solar equator rotates at a slightly faster pace than at the solar poles. The cycle between Solar Maximums takes an average of 11 years. The last Solar Maximum was in 2000 and NASA has predicted that 2012 will bring the greatest seen since 1958.
The northern lights are a breathtakingly beautiful natural phenomenon. They can frequently be seen in Iceland in the winter time (October - April) on cold, clear and crisp nights. According to scientists, general conditions for viewing the northern lights in 2011-2013 in Iceland are exceedingly good, although their visibility is always subject to weather conditions.
Several northern lights tours are on offer from Reykjavik, either by bus, jeep or boat. Sightings can never be guaranteed, but tour operators take visitors to places where viewing chances are best and normally offer another tour free of charge should guests fail to see the lights on the first night.
Did you know? In Norse mythology northern lights were believed to be the reflections of the shields of the Valkyries racing across the sky on their way to their resting place, Valhalla.