The aurora borealis is also called the northern polar lights, as it is only visible in the sky from the Northern
Hemisphere, the chance of visibility increasing with proximity to the North Magnetic Pole, which is currently
in the arctic islands of northern Canada. Auroras seen near the magnetic pole may be high overhead, but
from further away, they illuminate the northern horizon as a greenish glow or sometimes a faint red, as if
the sun were rising from an unusual direction. The aurora borealis most often occurs from September to
October and from March to April. The northern lights have had a number of names throughout history.

The Cree people call this phenomenon the "Dance of the Spirits." Auroras can be spotted throughout the
world. It is most visible closer to the poles due to the longer periods of darkness and the magnetic field.

Its southern counterpart, the aurora australis or the southern polar lights, has similar properties, but is
only visible from high southern latitudes in Antarctica, South America, or Australia. Australis is the Latin
word for "of the South."

Benjamin Franklin first brought attention to the "mystery of the Northern Lights." He theorized the shifting
lights to a concentration of electrical charges in the polar regions intensified by the snow and other moisture.

Socotra or Soqotra (Arabic سُقُطْرَى ; Suquṭra) is a small archipelago of four islands and islets in the Indian
Ocean off the coast of the Horn of Africa some 190 nautical miles (220 mi; 350 km) south of the
Arabian peninsula.

It is so isolated that a third of its plant life is found nowhere else on the planet.
It has been described as the most alien-looking place on Earth.

Socotra is part of the Republic of Yemen.

It has long been a part of the 'Adan Governorate, but in 2004 it became attached to the Hadhramaut
Governorate, which is much closer to the island than 'Adan (although the closest governorate would be Al
Mahrah).

Socotra is considered the "jewel" of biodiversity in the Arabian sea.[2] The long geological isolation of the
Socotra archipelago and its fierce heat and drought have combined to create a unique and spectacular
endemic flora (which may, therefore, be vulnerable to introduced species such as goats).

Surveys have revealed that more than a third of the 800 or so plant species of Socotra are found nowhere
else.

Botanists rank the flora of Socotra among the ten most endangered island flora in the world.

The archipelago is a site of global importance for biodiversity conservation and a possible center for
ecotourism.