Aided by dogs, reindeer and an 18-hour sleeper train, novelist Sarah Perry sets out in search of the aurora
Having longed all my life to visit the Arctic, I failed to notice the moment it happened, having been asleep at the time. When I woke the following morning, I’d already crossed the Arctic Circle, and it was the Polar night. The previous evening, I’d boarded a night train in Stockholm together with journalists from the UK, Finland and Denmark. We’d been invited to mark the inaugural journey of Swedish Railway’s Arctic Circle sleeper, a route it was taking on from another operator.
They’re visibly intelligent, their muscles taut with potential energy; their thick, short pelts are every kind of colour. Waiting for us were several sleds, each hitched to two impatient pairs of dogs baying to be gone. The sleds consisted of a handle at waist height, and two treads — narrower than my booted feet — fixed either side of a pair of brakes. “Stand on the brake,” said a guide with a hunting knife strapped to her belt, “until we let them go. If you don’t,” she said smilingly, “well .
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Northern Lights Viewing Forecast: Favorable Conditions Expected TonightThe northern lights are expected to be visible tonight in the Boston area with favorable viewing conditions. Two coronal mass ejections from the sun are expected to deliver a glancing blow to Earth, potentially bringing auroral displays to northern New England.
Read more »
Northern Lights Could Light Up UK Skies on New Year's EveThe Met Office predicts a chance to see the aurora borealis in Scotland, northern England, and Northern Ireland on December 31st if skies are clear.
Read more »
Northern Lights Could Greet New Year's Eve in UKThe Met Office predicts possible Northern Lights sightings on New Year's Eve in Scotland, northern England, and Northern Ireland if cloud cover permits.
Read more »
Northern Lights Could Light Up UK Sky on New Year's EveA Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is forecast to hit Earth on December 31, potentially causing geomagnetic storms and bringing the Northern Lights to parts of the UK. While cloud cover may limit views, there's a chance of aurora sightings in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Northern England. Even better chances are expected in 2025 due to the solar maximum.
Read more »
Northern Lights Could Light Up New Year's Eve in ShropshireA coronal mass ejection from the sun is expected to arrive on New Year's Eve, potentially triggering the Aurora Borealis. Shropshire sky-watchers have a chance to see the Northern Lights if the clouds clear.
Read more »
Scotland to be Dazzled by Northern Lights in New YearThe Met Office predicts enhanced visibility of the Aurora Borealis in Scotland due to a rare solar event.
Read more »