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Aurora borealis over Lofoten, Norway
The way to Valhalla?
You don't have to go all the way to Norway to see the aurora borealis, but it definitely helps. Here, amid fjords and fishing villages scattered over coastal islands, it's easy to imagine Vikings filing out of their longhouses in ancient times to marvel at the very same light show. The old Norse identified the aurora with the shining armour of Valkyries, mythical winged warrior women said to carry fallen soldiers to the afterlife. Modern science tells us it's really energised particles from the sun getting redirected towards the poles by Earth's magnetic field—but isn't it more fun to imagine a horde of departed berserkers being carried off to Valhalla?
The way to Valhalla?
You don't have to go all the way to Norway to see the aurora borealis, but it definitely helps. Here, amid fjords and fishing villages scattered over coastal islands, it's easy to imagine Vikings filing out of their longhouses in ancient times to marvel at the very same light show. The old Norse identified the aurora with the shining armour of Valkyries, mythical winged warrior women said to carry fallen soldiers to the afterlife. Modern science tells us it's really energised particles from the sun getting redirected towards the poles by Earth's magnetic field—but isn't it more fun to imagine a horde of departed berserkers being carried off to Valhalla?
This dazzling sight must surely have struck even hardened Viking warriors with awe.
© Denis Belitsky / Shutterstock 2026-09-11 08:45:51 :