Monday, October 5, 2009

Northern Lights in Tromso Norway


Tromso, Norway

postmarked in 2009 with a Norway 12.00 stamp

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Auroras are natural light displays in the sky, usually observed at night, particularly in the polar regions. In northern latitudes, the effect is known as the aurora borealis, named after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for north wind, Boreas by Pierre Gassendi in 1621. The northern lights have had a number of names throughout history. The Cree people call this phenomenon the "Dance of the Spirits." Auroras can be spotted throughout the world. It is most visible closer to the poles due to the longer periods of darkness and the magnetic field.

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