Experience the Northern Lights in Yellowknife, Canada
Canada is the second largest country in the world and as such, it boasts a diverse array of tourist attractions for visitors to enjoy. From diverse natural landscapes to multiple cultures influencing the region, there is something for every tourist that is worth exploring in Canada. Among its many tourist attractions is the city of Yellowknife.
Yellowknife is most popular for being one of the few cities in Canada where you can admire the beautiful Northern Lights phenomenon known as the Aurora Borealis. These lights are one of the main reasons so many people wish to visit Canada as they are one of the most unique displays of light in the entire world.
So, if you'd like to witness these fabulous lights, keep reading to learn how to experience the Northern Lights in Yellowknife.
How to Arrive in Yellowknife?
Let's start by addressing the question of how to reach Yellowknife. The easiest way to reach this city is by simply boarding a plane. The city is located in the Northwest Territory of Canada close to the Great Slave Lake. Because of its remote location, Yellowknife has an airport for flights to arrive directly in the city.
However, be mindful of the fact that Yellowstone is a tourist-heavy place and you are likely to experience a huge crowd at the airport which will lead to long waiting times. If you don't wish to deal with a crowd, driving to the city is also an option since many of Canada's main highways connect to this city.
If you choose the driving option, then prepare for a long drive depending on where you landed in Canada. While you are driving to the city, make sure to enjoy the beautiful Canadian roads and the beautiful natural scenery surrounding it. After you arrive in the city, you can travel to every destination you wish to travel to here using local transportation.
Popular Tourist Activities in Yellowstone
Now that you have arrived in Yellowstone, it is time to discuss what you can do here during your visit. While the main attraction of this place is the Northern Lights, that phenomenon is only visible during the night, so you will have to occupy yourself until night time arrives. Luckily, there are plenty of fun tourist activities that you can do in Yellowstone some of which are mentioned below:
Enjoy the Dog Sledding Across the Tundra
The city of Yellowknife is surrounded by a beautiful snowy tundra that is a great sight to behold especially during winter. While you can take a small walk around this beautiful natural scenery, the best way to experience this tundra is by going on a dog sled ride.
Many local outfitters provide dog sledding for 1 or 2 hours which is a great way to experience the beautiful scenery of Yellowknife.
Take a Ferry Across the Great Slave Lake
If you wish to spend your time in a place that has both great natural scenery and a rich history, look no further than the Great Slave Lake. This lake is only defrosted for 4 months a year and during this time, you can take a ferry across the entire lake looking at the many beautiful small islands and rocky shorelines surrounding the lake.
The Great Slave Lake is the sixth deepest lake in the world and the 2nd largest lake in Canada. This lake served as a place where the British and French engaged in fur trade in the past and the name of the lake comes from the native tribes that once resided here and gave it that name when their language was translated into English.
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Canada is home to a plethora of lakes, especially the five great lakes of North America which are Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, and Lake Erie. Read more at Incredible Lakes in Canada.
Go on a Fishing Trip
Canada is a great place in general to experience fishing in the many excellent spots present in the country.
You can choose either to pick a spot for yourself or better, book a fishing trip which will take you into the waters where you can hook up fish without dealing with a large crowd and the same common fish being reeled every time as rarer fishes hang around the center of a water body.
While you wait for your fish to bite the bait. Have fun observing the great views that surround you during such tours.
Attend the Folk on the Road Festival
If you arrive in Yellowknife in the month of July, you are in luck, because every year in July, the city hosts a music festival known as the Folk on the Road. Enjoy some nice Canadian and International music collections while you are here and take a look at some of the art booths scattered around.
The festival lasts for 3 days, so you have plenty of time to enjoy yourself here.
Enhance your Exploration with Geocaching
If casual exploration is too boring of an activity for you, then Geocaching is sure to give your trip that extra spice to add some flavor to your exploration. Geocaching is an activity which is where people use GPS to try and track caches hidden across a particular area.
These caches often contain a pen and a book to allow the person who found the cache to write down the time when they found it as well as their names. The cache is then placed back where it was found. This activity is especially fun when it is performed in a great-looking place which is what Yellowknife has for its tourists.
How to Properly Observe the Northern Lights?
Once nighttime finally arrives, it is time to go outside and see the wonderful natural phenomena of the Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights. There are several viewing spots scattered around Yellowknife where you can observe these lights; however, the best places are the ones that are close to your itineraries.
These allow you to retreat inside your room if the night is not cooperating or the Northern Lights don't appear. The lights appear for 240 nights in a year so there's a chance that they may not appear. If you are in a crowded spot looking to take pictures of the Northern Lights then make sure that you follow these rules:
Turn off the flash on your camera while taking pictures as it can interfere with the pictures taken by other people. If you want the light to take a group photo, then use a separate source of red light to do so.
Bring your tripods with you as getting a clear shot is going to be difficult due to the fact that the Northern Lights constantly move around. It also helps in taking group pictures so don't forget to bring it along with you.
Be mindful of the objects surrounding you while you are here, such as trees, rocks, and other people who are present around you. Awareness of your space is very important in these places, especially during the night.
Wear proper winter clothing and properly protect your equipment from the cold. Nights in the Northwest region of Canada can get very cold with temperatures dropping to as low as -20 degrees. So, always prioritize protection against cold first.
Canada is a great place for exploration and tourist activities and among them, the Northern Lights stand out as the highlight of the country's main tourist attractions. While Yellowknife is not the only place in Canada where you can observe these lights, it is one of the best options due to its many other tourist attractions. So, prepare by applying for your Canada eTA and enjoy the light show.
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The Rocky Mountains, or simply the Rockies, is a world-famous mountain range starting in Canada, at Liard River, which lies at the northern end of British Columbia, and stretching till the Rio Grande River in New Mexico in the southwestern part of the United States. Find out more at The Rocky Mountains in Canada.
Check your eligibility for eTA Canada Visa and apply for eTA Canada Visa 72 hours in advance of your flight. Citizens of many countries including Greek citizens, New Zealand citizens, Polish citizens, Croatian citizens and Slovenian citizens can apply online for eTA Canada Visa.