76
the arctic
SWEDEN
There are the landscapes of the Swedish Arctic—forests,
frosted tundra, and sparkling lakes. There is the wildlife—
wolves, bears, and reindeer. And then there is the breath-
stealing aurora borealis, or northern lights, one of nature’s
most elusive wonders. The Sami people call the aurora many
names, including guovssahas, “the light that can be heard.”
The aurora borealis, a shimmering nocturnal dance of
color, lights the Arctic sky above Kiruna, Sweden’s north-
ernmost city.