Nature occasionally delivers breathtaking spectacles, and few are as fortunate as those who witness them firsthand. Ontario resident Timothy Joseph Elzinga will never forget the rare event he encountered on January 6, 2017. Awakened at 1:30 a.m. by his 2-year-old son, he spotted ethereal columns of light through the window while soothing the child. “I had to take a closer look, so I threw on some jeans and rushed outside to snap photos,” he shared with CBC News. Mistaking them initially for the northern lights, Elzinga soon learned these were striking light pillars, also known as solar pillars.
As explained by National Geographic, this phenomenon is common in polar regions during frigid temperatures. It occurs when ice crystals form in the air, orient horizontally, and drift downward. These crystals act like prisms, refracting light—from the sun, moon, or artificial sources—and projecting it upward in luminous beams. In Elzinga’s photos, the extreme cold created abundant crystals that reflected the glow from nearby streetlights and businesses, creating a sublime display.
The photographer was awestruck: “It was radiant—I’d never seen anything like it. It almost felt supernatural,” he said. Light pillars have been observed elsewhere, including Sweden, Alaska, New Hampshire, and Michigan in the U.S. Scroll down for more captivating images to spark your wonder...
