REGIONS: NORTHEAST A MOST By Lauren Sauer The northern lights are a show of atmospheric proportions unlike any other, handily dwarfing the quaint efforts of Fourth of July fireworks or any number of holiday light strings. And, as the northernmost state in the lower 48, Minnesota is the perfect place to admire the northern lights in all their glory. Accessible primarily by canoe, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a vast area of protected land along the U.S.-Canada border that’s home to over 1,100 of the world’s purest lakes. As Minnesota’s first designated Dark Sky Sanctuary, it’s also the ideal place to witness the northern lights. I grew up camping in this remote wilderness regularly—paddling deep into the forest to set up a tent beneath the stars— but only saw the northern lights once. Northern lights over Lake Superior -Photo by Alister Olson 106 | EXPLORE MINNESOTA .COM
Explore Minnesota Travel Guide 2021 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide: Page 107
