Here are 10 places on Earth where the sun never sets for a period of time, due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis and their location within the Arctic and Antarctic Circles:
- Tromsø, Norway
Location: Arctic Circle, Norway
When: From late May to late July
Why: Tromsø experiences a phenomenon called the “Midnight Sun,” where the sun doesn’t set for about 2 months during the summer.
- Barrow (Utqiaġvik), Alaska, USA
Location: Arctic Circle, Alaska
When: From mid-May to early August
Why: As the northernmost city in the United States, Utqiaġvik experiences a polar day, where the sun doesn’t set for around 2.5 months.
- Reykjavík, Iceland
Location: Just south of the Arctic Circle, Iceland
When: From late May to early August
Why: In Reykjavík, the sun sets very late and rises early during the summer months, with the sun barely dipping below the horizon around the summer solstice.
- Reykjavík, Iceland
Location: Arctic Circle, Norway
When: From mid-April to late August
Why: Svalbard, which lies well within the Arctic Circle, experiences continuous daylight for several months, especially during the summer.
- Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway
Location: Svalbard Archipelago, Norway
When: From April 20 to August 22
Why: Longyearbyen is one of the northernmost settlements on Earth, experiencing 24-hour daylight for over 4 months during the summer.
- Nordkapp (North Cape), Norway
Location: Northern Norway
When: From mid-May to late July
Why: The northernmost point in Europe, where the sun doesn’t dip below the horizon for several weeks during the summer months.
- Murmansk, Russia
Location: Arctic Circle, Russia
When: From late May to mid-July
Why: As the largest city within the Arctic Circle, Murmansk experiences polar day during the summer, with the sun never setting.
- Finland (Lapland)
Location: Arctic Circle, Finland
When: From early June to early July
Why: In Finland’s Lapland region, the sun stays above the horizon for up to 2 months during the summer solstice.
- Tuktoyaktuk, Canada
Location: Arctic Circle, Canada
When: From mid-May to late July
Why: Located above the Arctic Circle, Tuktoyaktuk experiences the Midnight Sun, where the sun remains visible for several weeks in the summer.
- Antarctica (Various Stations)
Location: Antarctica
When: From late September to late March
Why: During the southern hemisphere’s summer months, most of Antarctica is bathed in continuous daylight, especially near the South Pole.
Common Theme:
These places are located within or near the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, where the Earth’s tilt causes them to experience a period of 24-hour daylight each year, known as the Midnight Sun in the Northern Hemisphere and Polar Day in the Southern Hemisphere.
In these areas, the sun remains above the horizon for extended periods, creating unique and awe-inspiring natural phenomena that locals and visitors alike experience as part of the extraordinary polar landscapes.