Alaska is known for its dark cold winters and long daylight summers. People venture there for its beautiful scenery， majestic vistas and to witness its spectacular light show virtually every night of the year. “ Witnessing the northern lights is spectacular. It's awe inspiring because you can't really explain what they are and why they are there，” a visitor said.
In ancient times， mythological gods were credited with this creation. But these mysterious lights get their powerful glow from the same awesome force that gives our planet life.
The sun is the source of energy for everything on planet earth， all life， all weather， and all activity that we know. Explosions and solar storms on the surface of the sun send charged particles known as solar winds hurtling towards earth. When they reach the earth's magnetic field the energy is transferred into visual light around the earth's Polar Regions. Realize the earth has magnetic field lines that loop out into space from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere， arching away from the earth and it is those magnetic field lines that organize the solar storms that cause it to create auroras.
While scientists know the cause of the aurora， exactly how it affects earth is still in question. Though infrared cameras have captured solar storms， the aurora remains a mystery.
For creating the planet's greatest nighttime light show， the aurora makes our list at number one.
From the spitting lava of Kilauea， to the raging rapids3 of the Colorado， the natural wonders of the world are dynamic4 proof of this spectacular planet we call Earth. But ultimately it's our curiosity of their existence that's the most wondrous thing of all. And that is our honor to bear witness to the planet's finest legacythe Ultimate5 Ten Natural Wonders.
阿拉斯加以其夜长昼短的阴冷冬季与长日照的夏季而著名。人们冒险来到这里观赏它美妙的景色、壮丽的风光，并亲眼看看一年中几乎每晚都会出现的极光奇观。“目睹北极光宛如身临仙境，奇幻之至，既兴奋又令人敬畏，因为你无法解释它们是何物，为何而来，”一位游客说。
在古代，人们认为是传说中的神仙创造了这种景象。但实际上，这种神秘之光的强度光亮来自于同样赋予地球以生命的令人敬畏的力量。
太阳是地球上万物的能量之源，包括我们知道的所有生命、所有天气和所有的活动。太阳表面的爆炸和太阳风暴，把带电粒子（即所谓的太阳风）猛烈射向地球。当它们到达地球磁场之后，能量便在地球极圈地带转化成可视的光线。要知道，地球上的磁场线以环形在空间从北半球抛向南半球，呈拱形覆盖于地球上空，而正是这些磁场线对于太阳风暴的作用形成了极光。
虽然科学家知道了极光的成因，但是它究竟如何影响地球仍是一个疑问。尽管红外线摄像机能够捕捉到太阳风暴，而极光依然是一种神秘之物。
因为创造了地球上最伟大的夜光之舞，极光在我们的名单上排名第一。
从基拉韦厄火山喷涌而出的岩浆，到科罗拉多滔滔的激流，这些世界自然奇观生动地证明了我们称之为“地球”的这个星球是多么独特、美丽。然而最终而言，所有当中最精彩的还是我们对这些景观的好奇心。能够见证这个星球上最好的遗产——十大自然奇观，确实是我们的荣幸。
，Alaska Light Show (阿拉斯加的极光)