Nature’s Most Spectacular Light Shows

Since prehistory, humanity has attempted to find meaning in light phenomena, be they the celestial bodies overhead, unusual light happenings underfoot, and all the reflections, views, and beams in between. We travel for experiences that inspire us and challenge our perspectives. Admiring these phenomena is particularly powerful, as the sense of awe in some ways connects us to early humanity; through these spellbinding displays, we search for a deeper meaning. Moreover, let’s be real, they’re just plain pretty.

Manhattanhenge in New York City

Twice a year, on dates evenly spaced around the summer solstice, the sun sets in perfect alignment with the east-west streets of Manhattan. “Manhattanhenge,” as it is commonly known, refers to Stonehenge, England’s inexplicable prehistoric rock formation. Also known as “Manhattan Solstice,” the first event occurs around May 28, while the second occurs around July 12. The most impressive, however, occurs in between these dates when you can look west down the centerline of, say, 34th Street, and see the full solar disk slightly above the horizon nestled perfectly among the skyscrapers.

Phytoplankton at Mudhdhoo (Vaadhoo) Island, Maldives

There are few places left in the world where bioluminescent phytoplankton are plentiful enough to create this light spectacle. As a defense mechanism, the phytoplankton glow blue when disturbed or agitated, creating a “stellar” display on the shoreline at night. There are other places where this can be seen (such as Jamaica’s Luminous Lagoon and Puerto Rico’s Bioluminescent Bays in Fajardo and Vieques, for example), but the luminescence has been dimmer in recent years. Chemicals in products like sunblock and bug spray are potentially damaging, so please be mindful if visiting.

Antelope Slot Canyon in Page, Arizona

The slithering passages of the slot canyons are stunning in and of themselves, but when you add the light that sneaks through the slight openings in the rocks above, the color play (a mesh of oranges, reds, and purples) becomes particularly captivating. Tours through the slot canyons occur daily, but prime viewing hours are typically between 11:30 a.m. and noon. Visitors should check with the reservations line, as the vividness of the scene varies throughout the year. A tip for photographing: visitors often kick up sand to achieve a more opaque spotlight.

Great Getu Arch in Getu Valley, China

The Great Getu Arch is essentially a beam of sunshine that breaks through a massive limestone formation, though some speculation surrounds the validity of the phenomenon. It has long been touted as rare and unpredictable, although some believe the images are, in fact, Photoshopped. A marketing director for the company who spoke with a photographer said the ray goes through the arch in the morning during spring and fall. Many blogs claim the phenomenon appears in the morning hours between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. on clear days. Furthermore, the light has also been seen shooting up from the arch, one of the largest limestone arches in the world.

“Fire Falls” in California’s Yosemite National Park

Imagine a wall of fire trickling down the face of a cliff. That’s the best way to describe the annual light phenomenon at California’s Yosemite National Park. Around the vernal equinox, the park’s Horsetail Falls—a waterfall on the side of the infamous El Capitan rock formation—glows a bright orange. The exact timing of the Fire Falls is challenging to predict, but one of the most convenient places to witness it is on Northside Drive, approximately 1.7 miles past Yosemite Lodge at the Falls in the El Capitan picnic area. Therefore, claim your spot early in the afternoon; by sunset, you’ll be surrounded by rows of photographers with tripods.

Aurora Borealis in Alberta’s Jasper National Park

When going to see the Northern Lights, most flock to the Scandinavian countries; however, North America offers many great spots to witness this phenomenon: the forests in Fairbanks, Alaska, and the National Parks of Alberta, to name a few. In fact, Alberta is home to the world’s two largest dark sky preserves: Jasper National Park and Wood Buffalo National Park, where the iridescent light dances across the sky in winter when the weather is dry, skies are clear, and solar activity is at its peak.

Naga Fireballs along the Mekong River in Thailand and Laos

Every fall, reddish “balls” of light of varying sizes rise from the Mekong River up to 100 meters in the air, only to explode and disappear. Known as “bung fai paya nak” or “Naga fireballs,” this event has most often occurred in late autumn during the full moon, at the end of the Buddhist Lent. It derives its name from the mythical serpent “Naga,” who haunts the river and breathes—what else?—great balls of fire. Mythology aside, for many years people believed the event could be explained by methane bubbles erupting below the river’s surface; however, in recent years, science has proven it to be a natural process where flammable phosphine gas builds up on the riverbed, often peaking in October.

Blue Grotto – Capri, Italy

Famous? Yes. Touristy? Yes. Still, it is a dream-like light phenomenon worth witnessing in person. Along the coast of the island of Capri in southern Italy, sunlight passes through an underwater cavity and shines through the seawater, creating a pretty blue illumination inside the cave. The cavity’s opening is tiny—less than a meter high—so visitors take a four-passenger rowboat into the grotto, often waiting several minutes until tides are low enough to paddle through the opening. The best time to go? Between noon and 2 p.m. on a sunny day. Cloudy days won’t have the same impact. The grotto has fascinated visitors since antiquity, even before Emperor Tiberius dedicated the cave to sea nymphs. However, fair warning: some visitors are disappointed by the whole experience. It takes about one to two hours to get there by boat, often for just 10 to 15 minutes inside the cave.

Marfa Lights in Marfa, Texas

Accounts of strange and unexplained lights just outside this high desert city began during the 19th century. Glowing orbs—red, white, and sometimes blue—appear in the desert near Route 67 on Mitchell Flat, although the official Marfa Lights Viewing Area is nine miles east of town on Highway 90. The event occurs randomly throughout the night, regardless of the season or the weather. Some believe the lights are UFOs, while others say they’re the atmospheric reflections of nearby cars and campfires.

The Everlasting Storm near the Catatumbo River in Venezuela

With lightning striking up to 280 times an hour, 10 hours a day, and 160 nights a year, the so-called Everlasting Storm takes place where Venezuela’s Catatumbo River meets Lake Maracaibo. Often referred to as the “Lighthouse of Maracaibo,” the area is considered to be the world’s largest single generator of tropospheric ozone. Here’s the gist: heat and moisture collect across the plains to create electrical charges with storm clouds rising over 5 km high. Consequently, as the air masses destabilize at the mountain ridges, continuous thunderstorm activity persists for most of the year. In January 2014, this phenomenon was officially added to the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest number of lightning strikes per square kilometer per year, at 250.

The Hessdalen Light in Hessdalen Valley, Norway

Strange light activity in this small valley in central Norway appeared to peak in the early 1980s, when sometimes hundreds of light orbs and fireball-like streaks (some as large as cars) could be seen dancing across the sky 15 to 20 times a week. Although activity has decreased since then, at times, the lights can still be seen for more than an hour. This phenomenon has intrigued scientists for years, so much so that, in 1998, an automated research station was established to monitor the appearances. The event is likely explained by the relationship between the valley’s electromagnetic field and its overall geologic makeup.

Light Poles in Very Cold Cities Like Laramie, Wyoming

This phenomenon—known as light poles or light pillars—can be extremely hard to predict, as several factors need to align for them to occur. The location must be a relatively large city or town—like Laramie, Wyoming (population 31,000)—with bright lights at night. It must also be extremely cold, below -4 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, there must be no wind (or very low wind), and tiny ice crystals need to be present in the atmosphere. The ice fog reflects the light into pole-like streaks.

Green Flash in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands

At the precise moment that the sun melts into the horizon on the ocean during a sunset, lucky spectators may see a “green flash” along the horizon. This fleeting moment lasts no more than a few seconds, making it incredibly difficult to photograph. While cruising the remote Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, where open ocean sunsets are the norm, naturalist guide Ivan Lopez jokes with guests that only those “in love” will see the green flash. Love aside, essentially, the atmosphere acts like a weak prism, refracting the light of the sun and causing the light to separate out into different colors of the spectrum, with green and blue being the most frequently seen at sunset. Moreover, this event is not exclusive to the Galapagos; it’s also frequently seen in the Caribbean along the two-by-five mile Dutch island of St. Eustatius, for example.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves in Auckland, New Zealand

In New Zealand, visitors can take a boat into a limestone cave, where lights sparkle in every direction like a night sky filled with stars. Sounds pretty romantic, right? Well, it is romantic, despite the fact that it’s all caused by an army of tiny worms and larvae. The stunning inlet, part of the Waitomo Caves system on the North Island of New Zealand, is a must-see phenomenon and an adventure from start to finish. Tours begin with a short hike through various cave formations including the Banquet Chamber, Pipe Organ, and Catacombs, until finally taking a boat ride to the grand finale, the Glowworm Grotto, where the only light emitted comes from living creatures, the Arachnocampa luminosa, or glowworms, which are exclusive and endemic to New Zealand.

Forest Fireflies in Nagoya City, Japan

In the forests of this Japanese city, fireflies waltz through the vegetation, attracting their mates and lighting up the night sky with mini sparks in the process. The best time to catch them is during the rainy season (June through July).

Blue Volcano in Danakil, Ethiopia

This cerulean eruption takes place in the Danakil Depression, a low-lying plain in Ethiopia. At dusk, the glow comes from the combustion of sulfuric gases that push through the cracks of the volcano. Consequently, when they come into contact with the air, they ignite and can send electric blue flames more than 16 feet in the air.