# data[].attributes.body
Known as 'The Smoke that Thunders' by locals, Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world based on combined width (1,708 meters) and height (108 meters). Located on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe, this incredible waterfall creates a spectacular mist that can be seen from miles away! The falls produce such a loud roar that you can hear it from 40 kilometers away. During the rainy season, over 500 million liters of water flow over the edge every minute! 🌊

# data[].attributes.body
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, stretching over 2,300 kilometers along Australia's coast. It's so big that it can be seen from space! 🐠 Home to over 1,500 species of tropical fish, 400 types of hard coral, 4,000 types of mollusks, and 240 species of birds. This underwater wonder is actually made up of nearly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands. It's like an underwater city for marine life!

# data[].attributes.body
Standing at a mighty 8,848 meters (29,029 feet), Mount Everest is Earth's highest mountain above sea level! 🏔️ Located in the Himalayas between Nepal and Tibet, this giant continues to grow about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) every year. The first confirmed summit was by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. The temperature at the top can drop as low as -60°C (-76°F), and the peak has about one-third the oxygen available at sea level!

# data[].attributes.body
The Grand Canyon in Arizona was carved by the Colorado River over millions of years! This massive canyon is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and over a mile deep. 🦅 The rocks at the bottom of the canyon are nearly 2 billion years old! The canyon has different colored layers of rock that tell the story of Earth's history. Native Americans have lived in and around the canyon for thousands of years, and it remains sacred to many tribes today.

# data[].attributes.body
The Harbor of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is the largest natural bay in the world! 🌊 Famous for its stunning natural setting, it's surrounded by gorgeous mountains including the iconic Sugar Loaf Mountain and Corcovado Peak with its Christ the Redeemer statue. The harbor contains more water than any other bay in the world and is bounded by unique granite mountains that rise right from the water's edge!

# data[].attributes.body
This volcano in Mexico is special because it's the youngest volcano in North America and scientists got to watch it being born! 🌋 In 1943, a farmer was working in his cornfield when the ground began to shake and crack. Within a week, the volcano had grown to 5 stories tall! It continued growing for 9 years, eventually reaching a height of 424 meters (1,391 feet). It's the only volcano whose entire life cycle has been observed by scientists from beginning to end!

# data[].attributes.body
The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, create magical displays of colorful lights dancing in the night sky! 🌈 These lights are caused by particles from the sun colliding with gases in Earth's atmosphere. The best places to see them include Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. The lights can appear in many colors, but green is the most common. The Vikings believed these lights were reflections from the shields of the Valkyries!

# data[].attributes.headline
Aurora Prediction Center for North America

# data[].attributes.subject
Aurora Prediction Center for North America

# data[].attributes.body
Look up the forecast for the best place to view the auroras on the North American Continent. Learn more about the science of auroras too.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Dive Deeper Into the Science of the Aurora

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Aurora Dashboard (Experimental) | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

# data[].attributes.body
Aurora Borealis Sky Cam Cameras

Scan down to see the Aurora Borealis in Alaska and learn about the best place to view them in Alaska.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Forecasts of auroral activity, updated daily.

# data[].attributes.body
Auroras in Finland

Tips for seeing the Northern Lights from Europe.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Finland is one of the best inhabited regions in the world for viewing northern lights, i.e. auroras.

Where?

Finland is on the southern rim of the auroral oval. The probability for seeing auroras is best in the northernmost part of the country, i.e. in Lapland. During geomagnetic storms the auroral oval expands southward and then auroras are seen also in Central and Southern Finland.

The statistical probability for seeing auroras during a dark and cloudless night is approximately:

at Kilpisjärvi: 75 % of nights

in Lapland (e.g. ski resorts Ylläs, Levi, Saariselkä): roughly 50 % of nights

in the central part of Finland (e.g. Oulu, Kuusamo): roughly 25 % of nights

on the south coast (e.g. Helsinki, Turku): once in a month on average.

When?

The typical time for auroral displays is at midnight, and a couple of hours before and after. However, auroras may occur randomly anytime when the sky is dark enough for seeing them.

Auroras occur quite evenly throughout the year, although the rate is slightly higher during spring and autumn than during winter and summer. However, in summer the nights are generally too light for seeing the auroras. Especially so in Lapland, where the sun does not set at all during a period around midsummer. Considering also the weather, the best time for seeing auroras in Northern Finland is in March and early April.

The solar activity, which varies with the 11-year sunspot cycle, also affects the frequency of auroras. The amount of large auroral displays tends to follow the amount of sunspots with a lag of a couple of years. This solar cycle effect is most pronounced in Southern Finland. In Lapland auroras are quite common always, even during solar minimum.

Real-time information

ISES RWC Finland provides real-time information on the level of geomagnetic disturbances in Finland. Geomagnetic activity is closely linked with auroras: when the activity level exceeds a location-specific threshold, it is probable to see auroras (weather permitting). Following the magnetic activity serves as nowcasting: when activity reaches a "red" level in the service on the station closest to you, it is time to go out to watch the sky.

Nighttime, the service also displays images from selected all sky cameras in Finland.

Tips for aurora watching

Find a dark, open place preferably far away from town lights. As auroras are most often seen on the northern sky, try to find an unrestricted view at least toward the northern horizon.

Optimal weather for watching auroras, dark and cloudless night, is practically always cold in Finland. Dress very warmly.

Lying on a mattress may be a more comfortable way to gaze up than bending your neck backward for lengthy times.

Watch a video

Reseacher Sini Merikallio explains the basics of northern lights or aurora borealis in 3 minutes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Auroras in Finland - Finnish Meteorological Institute

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Information on auroras and where and when they occur.