1041) Northern Lights, Aland Islands: A stamp of 1.70 Euro issued by Aland Post on 08.03.2019:

1041) Northern Lights, Aland Islands: A stamp of 1.70 Euro issued by Aland Post on 08.03.2019:

For my comprehensive post of the Southern Lights, please visit the following link, which has a unique holographic coin (showing how the "moving" lights are displayed in the atmosphere) on it:

1) Southern Lights, (New Zealand): A Commemorative $1 holographic Silver Coin released by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand on 18.01.2017

The Aland Islands Archipelago is an autonomous, demilitarised and mono-lingually Swedish speaking region of Finland with a population in a few hundreds. 

The coast of Aland is deeply indented by bays and fjords, and its most notable harbour is at Ytternas.

The large islands of Eckero, Lemland and Lumparland are separated from Aland and each other by narrow shallow straits. The islands of Folglo, Vardo and the archipelago of Geta are also quite massive, with steep cliffs. Many small lakes abound on the larger islands.

Almost 90% of the Alanders live on Fasta Aland (the Main Island) which also has the capital city of Mariehamn.

The Postage stamp depicting the Northern Lights:

On 08.03.2019, Aland Post has issued a stamp featuring the fascinating luminous phenomenon "Aurora Borealis". 

The possibility of experiencing the Nordic Lights in Aland is quite high from mid-August to April, when the nights are dark.

Auroras appear when the Sun particles collide with the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the emission of light of varying colour and appearing in many forms such as arcs, rippling curtains or rays.

The stamp motif was photographed on a late December night at the Notvik Tower, located in Sund near the Bomarsund fortress, which appears in the foreground, by avid photographer Ingmar Erikkson of Mariehamn. The Notvik Tower is an excellent location to capture the luminous phenomenon, as the heights with a clear view towards the North offer an excellent opportunity to capture the enticing phenomenon.

The First Day Cover (FDC) issued at the time of release of the stamp depicting the Northern Lights

The background image on the FDC is that of the Northern Lights at play in the Aland skies. The Stamp of 1.70 Euros has been cancelled with a special Hand-Stamp depicting the Northern Lights in the centre. 

The Cancellation is of Mariehamn Post Office and is dated "08.03.2019".

The Stamp of 1.70 Euros depicting a photograph taken by photographer Ingmar Eriksson of the Northern Lights

The Aurora Borealis as seen with the Bomarsund fortress in the foreground - Original photograph by Ingmar Erikkson

The 16 x 2 Sheet of stamps, depicting the colourful scenery and the view of the Northern Lights from the Notvik Tower

A focussed view of the centre of the above two Sheet of Stamps

The specifications/Technical Details of this stamp issue are:

Stamp Issue Date: 08.03.2019

Value of Stamp: 1.70 Euros

Size of Stamp: 40 mm x 26.6 mm

Size of Sheet: 2 x 16 Stamps

Designer: Photographer Ingmar Eriksson

Printer: Southern Colour Print

Colours: 4 colours

Process: Offset