Kilpisjärvi Aurora

The view looks out over open fell country in the far northwest of Finnish Lapland, where the village of Kilpisjärvi sits among rounded, treeless hills near the Swedish and Norwegian borders. On clear nights the frame is mostly dark sky above a low horizon, and the aurora borealis can appear as green or faintly violet bands and arcs moving across it. Snow, scattered lights from the village and the shape of the fells give the scene its character.

The aurora is best watched in the dark hours around midnight, and the season runs from late summer into early spring when nights are long enough. Autumn and winter offer the deepest darkness, while spring nights are shorter but often clearer. Activity comes and goes in waves, so the sky can stay quiet for a while and then brighten quickly. Moonlight, thin clouds and fresh snow on the ground all change how much of the sky and landscape is visible.

Kilpisjärvi lies in the municipality of Enontekiö, close to the point where Finland, Sweden and Norway meet. The surrounding landscape is high, open fell country with large lakes and the Saana fell rising above the village. The area is part of a wider wilderness used for hiking, skiing and nature study, and it is known for its northern birdlife and Arctic plant life. The village is small and remote, reached by road through Lapland.