NATALIE

Natalie Earl Plato
Received word from cousin’s daughter, Natalie Plato, government scientist at Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Not quite what I expected. Natalie apologized that as my northern reporter she didn’t have time to send me a nature report. Instead she sent a recent copy of Canada’s Arctic Journal, Above & Beyond.
Many topics caught my eye but one in particular, “Nature’s Light Show.” From her home base in Yellowknife Natalie has spectacular views of the Northern Lights.
While in Algonquin Park in late summer in past years we have seen the shows of Aurora Borealis. Spectacular flashes and rays in the night sky from the North was a sight to see. The sounds of the Wolf Howl was great too. Cathy Olsen writing in Above & Beyond, shares some observations from Yellowknife. These descriptions of the Northern Lights below are not what we southerners think as Northern Lights.

“ Far North in the night sky a faint glow appears
on the horizon. Green and red flames of light
stretch across the sky. A glowing curtain of
light forms waving and swirling above you.
As the light fade away the dark night closes
over you once again.” Mish Denlinger
The incredible beauty of nature’s light show has captured the imagination of many cultures and folklore is rich with explanations for the Aurora Borealis. A 17th century scientist named the Northern lights - Aurora for the Roman goddess of the dawn and Borealis - for the Latin Meaning "Of north" Olsen says, “Yellowknife’s location makes it the most popular area on earth for those who want to experience the thrill of the full Aurora Borealis.” That I didn’t know.
The “fuel” for the Northern lights comes from high-energy particles carried by the sun’s solar winds traveling to earth at a speed of about a million miles per hour. Olsen says, “ When they reach the earth, 40 hours after leaving the sun, the particles are deflected by our planet’s magnetic field toward the polar regions.”
I have written back to Natalie Plato, who had spent some weeks in Antarctica last year, and asked her about “Southern” Lights of the Aurora borealis. I hope she will reply.
Cathy Olsen ends her article with, “ It is estimated that fewer than five per cent of the people on earth have seen the magnificent colours of the Aurora Borealis.”
To see the real thing for us southeners it looks as if we have to head north of the Arctic Circle, eh.
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