7 awe-inspiring natural phenomena you can see in Europe | Euronews

The natural world is full of wonders that will take your breath away. The best part is, you don’t necessarily have to travel far to experience them. We’ve rounded up seven of the most amazing natural phenomena you can see in Europe – all you have to do is be in the right place at the right time.

Never-ending day: midnight sun, Norway

During the summer you can experience the disorientating phenomenon of 24-hour daylight by heading north of the Arctic Circle. Known as the Midnight Sun, it occurs due to the angle at which the earth rotates on its axis relative to the sun. In places such as Tromso, Svalbard, and the Lofoten Islands in northern Norway, for a period from roughly mid-May until the end of July, rather than setting, the sun simply hovers above the horizon before rising again. This results in a prolonged combination of sunset and sunrise that bathes the land in an atmospheric glow, and gives you the chance to go hiking or kayaking in the middle of the night.

The midnight sun in Norway Taneli Lahtinen / Unsplash
Endless dark: polar night, Sweden

The dramatic opposite of the Midnight Sun, the Polar Night is where the sun does not rise above the horizon all day. This doesn’t necessarily coat the world in complete darkness though, and the sky is often tinted with gorgeous dark blues and pinks. Combined with the light of the moon reflecting off the pure white snow, the effect is stunning. It also provides the perfect opportunity for stargazing. You can experience this phenomenon high up in northern Sweden in cities such as Kiruna, where the polar night lasts for approximately 28 days from early December onwards.

The polar night Nelly Volkovich / Unsplash
Dancing skies: black sun, Denmark

This might sound ominous, but the black sun (‘sort sol’ in Danish) is a breathtaking display during which up to a million migrating starlings take to the skies. It occurs during sunset in spring and autumn, and it gets its name because there are so many birds in the sky that it feels as though they block out the sun. The sweeping, coordinated movements they make look almost like dancing and are mesmerising to watch. The phenomenon usually lasts around 20 minutes, and the Wadden Sea National Park is one of the best spots to observe it.

Striking silhouettes: frozen snow trees, Finland

To experience a true winter wonderland, head to the Riisitunturi National Park in the wilderness of northern Finland. Here, temperatures can drop to a bone-chilling -40 °C, causing the water droplets in the air to freeze to the trees. This transforms the forest into a sea of natural ice sculptures in all sorts of weird shapes. Some curl over at the top like a witch’s hat, while others thicken up into monster-like forms. The best way to explore them is by strapping on some snowshoes and warm clothes for a hike through the still and silent statues.

— Read on www.euronews.com/travel/amp/2021/04/25/7-awe-inspiring-natural-phenomena-you-can-see-in-europe

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