Politis

Stunning Aurora Borealis Over Baldeneysee Lake

Published January 20, 2026, 06:28
Stunning Aurora Borealis Over Baldeneysee Lake

A stunning aurora borealis (northern lights) illuminates the night sky over Baldeneysee Lake in Essen, Germany. The phenomenon, rare in these geographical areas, is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with atmospheric gases. The color of the aurora depends on the type and altitude of the gases affected: oxygen produces green light at lower altitudes and red at higher altitudes. The impressive photograph was taken on January 19 by Christopher Neundorf and published by the EPA. The aurora borealis is a natural phenomenon primarily observed in polar regions, but it can occasionally be seen at lower latitudes, as in the case of Baldeneysee Lake.