Between November and April every year, Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights are visible from the extreme northern hemisphere.

The aurora is formed when charged particles are guided by the Earth's magnetic field into the atmosphere near the poles. When these particles collide with atoms and molecules of the upper atmosphere, primarily oxygen and nitrogen, some of the energy in these collisions is transformed into the visible light that characterises the aurora.

But the science behind the aurora is immaterial. The fact that the Northern Lights are one of the most hauntingly beautiful sights to be seen on earth is not.

The Norwegian city of Tromso is an ideal place to see the lights. Tromso is located 200 miles inside the Arctic circle and is dark between April and August. Seeing the aurora in Tromso is not guaranteed, but you stand a much better chance than in say, Hull.

But Tromso has so much more to offer than the Northern Lights. The city itself has a number of museums and places of interest where visitors can learn about life and culture in the Arctic. The surrounding area also offers many opportunities for adventure and outdoor activities such as dog sledding, cross country skiing, glacier walking and ice climbing.

The cost of living in Norway is high, so don't expect a cheap break away to Tromso. If you did not manage to see the lights, there is enough to do in Tromso to fill your days. But if you do get to see the aurora, then everything will have been worthwhile.

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