It's said to be the southernmost city on the globe, located at the southern tip of Argentina [source: Aurora]. Ushuaia is closer to the Antarctic Circle than Tasmania, South Georgia and Stewart Island. It would seem a likely spot to see the lights.
And it is -- but when it comes to the aurora australis, "likely" means "possible." Still, the Southern Lights do appear over Ushuaia, and it's remarkably easier to get there, stay there and tour there than, say, South Georgia Island. Or the South Pole.
In winter time, Ushuaia is in darkness for about 17 hours a day, which leaves the door open for sightings -- if the timing and the weather are right [source: Patagonia]. The weather here, however, is rather unstable, throwing another factor into the luck pile [source: Patagonia].
Maybe that's what it's about, though -- adventure, luck and the surprise of a sky suddenly exploding with ribbons of neon light. The aurora australis can be tough to catch, and even great efforts may fail. For some aurora seekers, that's part of the allure.
For the rest, and for those who try valiantly and still miss the show, the Aurora Borealis is waiting up North -- easier to get to, more likely to appear when people are watching and a practical mirror to the lights of the south. The only difference, in the end, is latitude.
Author's Note: 10 Best Spots on Earth to Watch the Auroras
Is it strange that I dedicated half an article about where to see the auroras to places where it's unlikely to happen? Perhaps. But I discovered early on in my research that many people don't know there are Southern Lights. The commonly photographed aurora borealis, and the popularity of Alaska as a tourist destination, seems to have embedded the aurora as a Northern phenomenon to such a great extent that its Southern counterpart has slipped through the general-knowledge cracks. And so, my tiny attempt to change that. And maybe help out an adventurer knocking off a bucket list way too quickly for comfort.
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- "Northern Lights in Greenland." World of Greenland: Artic Circle (WOGAC). (Nov. 7, 2012) http://wogac.com/northern-lights-greenland
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- "Story: Stewart Island/Rakiura." Teara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. (Nov. 9, 2012) http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/stewart-islandrakiura/1/1
- Tate, Jean. "Aurora Australis." Universe Today. Oct. 14, 2009. (Nov. 7, 2012) http://www.universetoday.com/42623/aurora-australis/
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- Wong, Hiufu. "5 places to see the brightest Aurora displays." CNN Go. March 13, 2012. (Nov. 7, 2012) http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/escape/5-places-see-brightest-northern-lights-696679