Sometimes a special evening begins with a glance outside. A pale arc appears above the dark treetops, changes shape and stretches across the sky as a green ribbon. At Mökki Tikka, you can experience moments like these right outside your own holiday home: beside the lake, in the forest clearing or just outside the house. Take your time, with a warm cabin close by whenever you feel like going inside.
Stillness on the frozen lake
Once local conditions have been checked and the ice confirmed safe to walk on, you can step out onto frozen Lake Koirajärvi. Away from distracting lights, the night sky opens above you. Dark forest lines the shore and snow crunches underfoot – a wonderfully quiet experience. If the Northern Lights begin to move across the lake, the evening needs no further plans.
The shore and forest clearing also offer places to watch the sky. Switch off unnecessary outdoor lights, wrap up warmly and take a hot drink. Stay out for as long as you enjoy it. I am happy to advise you on suitable clothing before your stay.
When is Northern Lights season?
In Lapland, the viewing season runs roughly from late August to early April. Autumn can bring reflections in open water; in winter, the snowy lake becomes the setting. Bright summer nights offer different ways to enjoy nature.
You need a dark, clear sky and auroral activity. Around midnight is a good time to look, though displays can appear at other times during the night. Each sighting is a natural event, which makes every encounter special.
What creates the Northern Lights?
The solar wind transfers energy to Earth’s magnetic field. Accelerated charged particles then excite oxygen and nitrogen high in the atmosphere, producing light. Oxygen creates green and red, among other colours; nitrogen contributes blue and violet shades.
Photographing the moment
Use a tripod, a wide-angle lens and manual focus on a star. Try f/1.8–2.8, ISO 1600–3200 and a 2–10-second exposure as starting settings. Shorten the exposure for bright, fast-moving lights; review your first images and adjust.
On a phone, try night mode: rest it securely, turn the flash off and keep it still during the exposure. Put the camera away for a while, too. Watching with your own eyes above the quiet lake is part of the experience.
Revontulet – the fox’s fires
The Finnish word revontulet means “fox fires”. A Finnish legend tells of a fox whose tail sends sparks into the sky as it runs through the snow. There, they become the Northern Lights – a poetic image for an evening among trees, snow and stars.
Useful links for your evening
These resources help you assess the conditions. The Apukka webcam shows the sky near Rovaniemi, not at Mökki Tikka; cloud cover and visibility can differ. Forecasts offer guidance, but cannot promise a sighting.
Aurora forecast app for Android
Current auroral activity · FMI
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