Rare natural phenomenon observed in Croatian sky surprises residents

The aurora borealis was observed across Europe last night, including parts of Croatia (illustration)

Last night, around 6:30 pm, residents of Central Europe, including Croatia, had the privilege of witnessing the aurora borealis on the northern horizon. 

It lasted for about ten minutes and was intensely red in colour. While such events are common in northern Europe, especially in the Scandinavian countries, the aurora borealis can sometimes occur in Central Europe, and in extreme cases, even as far south as the Mediterranean.

Residents of inland Croatia, specifically Zagorje, Međimurje, and Podravina, as well as several other surrounding areas and as far as the Dalmatian hinterland, had the opportunity to see witness the Rare natural phenomenon last night. 

You can see some photos HERE. 

There was also some breathtaking video footage captured from Sljeme in Zagreb.

Aurora borealis, or the northern lights, is a rare but not uncommon phenomenon in our region. During periods of maximum solar activity, the sun often releases strong bursts that cause intense auroras visible even from significantly farther south. 

The last time the aurora was visible from Sljeme, it was eight years ago in 2015 and also in 2003. 

You can see the video HERE. 

The aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, is a natural light display that occurs in the high-latitude regions near the Arctic and Antarctic. It is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with the Earth’s magnetic field. 

The phenomenon creates a luminous spectacle in the sky, with vibrant colours ranging from green to pink and red, forming beautiful patterns that dance and shimmer across the night sky. This stunning natural phenomenon is a result of the collision between gaseous particles in the Earth’s atmosphere and charged particles released from the sun’s atmosphere.