City lights in Iceland turned off for spectacular Northern Lights show [PHOTOS & VIDEO]
Street and home lighting were turned off in the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, for one hour to allow the world renowned Northern Lights spectacle to be viewed in all its glory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=MZUIpXTX7E0
The skies over Keflavik, Iceland on September 25th, 2016.
Lights are OUT in #Reykjavik ! Waiting for insane #northernlights
— Do More Asgeir (@DoMoreAsgeir) September 28, 2016
The lights went out in selected parts of the city on Wednesday night and residents were asked to keep their homes in the dark between 10pm and 11pm to facilitate a clearer view of the spectacular natural phenomenon.
So damn beautiful. I’m too lucky. #NorthernLights#AuroraBorealispic.twitter.com/Ov6tPZ7P8N
— TravelForDifference (@tfordifference) September 28, 2016
Needless to say, there are some risks to having a city-wide blackout and the Reykjavik City Council urged motorists in darkened areas to drive with particular caution.
Just dancing around the sky…#Iceland#Reykjanes#bestìheimi#northernlights#auroraborealis@IcelandTravelTOpic.twitter.com/M6bHBAG1eN
— Urdur Eco (@twittzzilla) September 28, 2016
READ MORE: Spectacular drone footage captures Northern Lights over Iceland (VIDEO)
Tourists and locals snapped awe-inspiring photos and videos of the dancing green-lit sky stretching across the capital.
Mosfellsheiði ? #northernlightspic.twitter.com/Sg6Q0hWN3k
— Una Hildardóttir (@unaballuna) September 28, 2016
The predicted combination of clear skies and high Aurora Borealis activity meant those who had traveled from all over the world to catch a glimpse of the celestial activity were in for envious views of the famously unpredictable event.
This isn’t the first time the city council have authorized a temporary blackout to aide Northern Lights spectators. The last time a forecast of peak viewing conditions prompted a city-wide outage was back in 2013.
What a show tonight! #nordurljos#northernlightspic.twitter.com/3KSvh1EotY
— Arnar Ólafsson (@pollur) September 28, 2016
READ MORE: Lawnmower accidentally triggers Northern Lights alert
There have also been less official efforts to dim the lights. In 2014, in the rural Icelandic town of Kleppjárnsreykir, a well-meaning local man triggered street sensors to shut off the street lights so tourists could get a better view of the dazzling lights in action.
Although the outage only last half an hour the man was reprimanded by police and reportedly promised not to pull the stunt again.
