Sky show: How to see the northern lights in Iceland 天空秀：要如何在冰島看到極光
(CNN)Seeing the
northern lights is a pinnacle life experience.
看極光是一個巔峰的人生體驗。
And watching the ever-shifting lights flicker in the sky above
mountains, glaciers and vast lava fields is particularly breathtaking.
而看著這在山、冰川和廣大觀瀾湖上空中不停變換閃爍的光線，特別讓人屏息。
In Iceland, the aurora borealis attracts everyone from
professional photographers to travelers that have the phenomenon on their list
of things to do before they kick it.
在冰島，極光吸引了各種人，從專家學者到攝影師到遊客，在他們來之前，他們的必看清單上都有這項特殊景觀。
You'll have the best chance of seeing the night lights when it's
cold and dark outside and the aurora activity is high.
在室外很冷又很暗的時候，是你看極光的最佳時機，可以看到極光在高空中閃爍。
The cold isn't a factor but the sky has to be clear, which it
usually is on extremely cold nights.
冷並不是一個影響因素，重要的是天空必須晴朗無雲，而通常都會是在非常冷的夜晚。
The phenomenon is caused by solar winds, which push electronic
particles to collide with molecules of atmospheric gases that cause an emission
of bright light.
極光現象是由太陽風，推動電子微粒與大氣氣體分子碰撞，而釋放出亮光。
The best time to see the northern lights in Iceland is from
October to March.
在冰島看極光的最佳時機是從十月到三月。
When the forecast is strong, it's best to drive (or take a tour
bus) to a dark area and look up.
Below are some of the best spots on the island to see the
northern lights.
以下是一些在島上最適合看極光的地點。
South: City lights 南方：城市之光
Staying in Reykjavik, Iceland's capital and the only city, with
no access to a car?
待在雷克雅維克，冰島的首都，同時也是唯一的城市，而且沒有車？
That's OK.
這樣也沒關係。
The northern lights can be seen by taking a walk down to the
Grotta lighthouse, where light pollution is at a minimum.
走路到光害最低的Grotta燈塔也可以看到北極光。
Other spots that might be dark enough are near the dome-shaped
building Perlan (The Pearl), close to Oskjuhlid, or at Hljomskalagardur Park.
其他可能夠暗的地方是在圓頂建築山頂珍珠樓Perlan附近，靠近Oskjuhlid或是在Hljomskalagardur公園。
For a short car ride, it's worth considering Thingvellir National
Park, site of Iceland's first parliament, which is isolated and pitch black at
night.
若是短距離乘車，可以考慮辛格韋德利國家公園，冰島最早議會的所在地，在夜晚宛如與世隔絕、一片漆黑。
For visitors uncomfortable with traveling alone there are tours
available.
如果遊客不喜歡獨自旅遊，也有觀光團可以參加。
Reykjavik Excursions offers northern lights tours -- buses depart regularly from
downtown Reykjavik.
雷克雅維克導覽（Reykjavik Excursions ）提供北極光之旅—巴士定時從雷克雅維克市中心出發。
West: Beautiful backdrops 西方:美麗的背景
For good reason -- it has everything: glaciers, mountains, lava
fields, ice caves.
孤獨星球出版社最近將西冰島列為2016的首選旅遊景點，原因如下—
它擁有一切：冰川、高山、觀瀾湖、冰窟。
When hunting for northern lights in the west, the Snaefellsnes
peninsula and fishing villages like Akranes and Borgarnes are worth seeking
out.
當你在（冰島）西方追極光的時候，斯奈山半島和像阿克拉內斯（Akranes）和博加爾尼斯（Borgarnes）的漁村都值得一看。
There are many interesting backdrops for northern lights photos
here, including the Snaefellsjokull glacier, black beaches and miles of
interesting rock formations.
這裏有很多有趣的極光照片背景，包括斯奈山冰川、黑沙灘和很多有趣的岩層構造。
Lighthouses are favored by photographers as great spots to
capture the aurora borealis, and Akranes lighthouse -- just 40 minutes from
Reykjavik -- is one of the best.
燈塔是攝影師們最喜歡的地點，捕捉極光、阿克拉內斯燈塔--距離雷克雅維克40分鐘的路程--最棒的地點之一。
The lights streak and dance over the sea with minimal light
pollution.
有著極低的光害，極光在海上閃爍起舞。
North: Dramatic landscapes 北方:戲劇化的地貌
Northern Iceland is home to some of the most dramatic landscapes
on the island -- including thundering waterfalls and geothermal hot spots.
冰島北邊都是些島上最戲劇化景色，包含宏偉的瀑布和地熱熱點。
The unofficial capital of the north, and Iceland's second most
populous town, Akureyri is at the center of it all.
北邊非正式的首都，也是冰島第二熱門的城鎮阿克雷里在這些景點的中心。
The town has a thriving art scene, snow sports, chic shops and
good restaurants.
這座城鎮有繁榮的藝術景致、雪上運動、別緻的商店以及很棒的餐廳。
The open terrain with a small population and low light pollution
makes it an ideal destination to catch a glimpse of the aurora.
這片開放的土地有著少量人口，和低度光害，讓這裡成為一個理想的賞極光地點。
Extreme
Iceland offers a two- to three-hour northern lights tour during the
winter.
Extreme Iceland提供冬季2至3小時的極光導覽。
Other good locations for independent travelers include the
mighty Dettifoss waterfall and the lush Lake Myvatn.
其他散客的好去處還有黛提瀑布（Dettifoss waterfall）和景色壯觀的米湖（Lake Myvatn）
East: Isolation and sheep 東方:與世隔絕與羊
For anyone seeking isolation, the east is the least populous
region of Iceland.
In fact, it's more common to encounter sheep than humans.
對於想找的與世隔絕的人，東邊是冰島上最冷門的區域，事實上，在那裡遇到羊比遇到人更平常。
The east is home to the actual "ice" of Iceland, as
Vatnajokull glacier looms over farms and vast expanses of desolate land.
東邊是冰島的冰真正的起源地，像是在農場和廣大的荒涼地帶隱約可見的瓦特納冰川。
Jokulsarlon, the glacier lagoon, is by far the best place to see
the lights in the east.
冰河湖，冰川潟湖，是目前在東邊看極光最棒的地點。
The lagoon features huge blocks of ice that are endlessly
breaking off the glacier, and large icebergs float along in the water.
這個潟湖以無數巨大浮冰將冰川分成兩半為特色，還有巨大的冰山漂浮在水中。
The lagoon isn't wide but it is up to 250 meters deep, making it
the deepest lake in Iceland.
這座潟湖並不寬廣，但是卻有250米深，讓他成為冰島最深的湖。
冰島高山導覽（Icelandic Mountain Guides ）提供包含在冰河湖的追光之旅。
Stand along the ice, bundle up in your warmest clothes, look up and enjoy the show.
置身於浮冰之中，穿好你最溫暖的衣服，抬起頭，好好欣賞這場表演。
It's worth keeping in mind that the weather is unpredictable in Iceland. It's best to check the roads (road.is) before heading out on a northern lights hunt, or any excursion.
一定要記住冰島的天氣非常變化無常，再出發去追光之旅或是任何遊覽前，最好要先查看路況。
