Northern Lights dazzle over Goulais Bay (5 photos)

Thanks to recent geomagnetic storm activity, Algoma residents were treated to a relatively rare (for our part of the world) sight on the Labour Day Weekend - the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis.

Freelance photographer Violet Aubertin was one of a number of local photographers to take advantage of this natural light show. The above gallery highlights Violet's images, captured Saturday between 9-11 p.m. on Goulais Bay.

The Northern Lights occur when electrically charged material from sun flares are blown by solar wind into space and collide with gaseous particles in the Earth's atmosphere, lighting up when they come into contact with the magnetic fields at the north and south poles. 

Variations in colour are due to the type of gas particles that are colliding. The most common colour is a pale yellowish-green produced by oxygen molecules located above the Earth. Rare, all-red auroras are produced by high-altitude oxygen, at heights of up to 200 miles. Nitrogen produces blue or purplish-red aurora. 

- with files from Sudbury.com