9 Places Where the Sun Never Sets (or Rises) on Earth

Imagine when you check clock at the midnight and outside window you find out sun shining brightly overhead or waking up after day complete in the darkness and sun no where to be seen in sky.

It may sound like the science-fiction novel but these extraordinary phenomena are reality in the world’s northernmost and southernmost regions.

As Earth’s rotates at 23.5-degree axial tilt  the areas located above the Arctic Circle and Below the Antarctic Circle experience the extended periods of continuous daylight which is known as the midnight sun ad after the months of darkness known as polar night.

From Norway’s fjords to Greenland’s icy coast and the frozen wilderness of Antarctica these places offers the  glimpse into a world where time feels different and nature follows its own rules.

Which Places Experience the Midnight Sun and Polar Night on Earth?

The answer of this question lies in some of the world’s northernmost and southernmost regions. As we know Earth’s 23.5-degree tilt, there are certain locations receive the continuous sunlight during the summer and prolonged darkness in the winter season.

The closer location to the poles witnesses the longer periods of the continuous daylight or darkness last.

9 Places Where the Sun Never Sets (or Rises)

1. Tromsø, Norway

It is located around 350 kilometres from north of the Arctic Circle. Tromsø experiences the midnight sun from the late May to late July and in this period residents enjoys the hiking, kayaking and outdoor activities long after midnight.

In the winter season, polar night arrives from the late November and it brings the long dark days illuminated by the spectacular Northern Lights.

2. Svalbard, Norway

Svalbard situated halfway between the situated halfway between. It experiences the one of the most extreme examples of the midnight sun. As from mid April to late August the sun never set below the horizon line.

In the winters, darkness dominates from late October to mid-February and creates the ideal conditions for aurora viewing.

3. Reykjavík and Ísafjörður, Iceland

As the Reykjavík lies south of the Arctic Circle the summer nights still remain remarkably bright.

Further in the north in Ísafjörður residents witness the twilight which can last almost all night during the month of June.

And the winter brings significantly shorter days and very few areas receiving only a few hours of the sunlight.

4. Iqaluit and Arctic Bay, Canada

It is located in Nunavut which is the Canada’s Arctic territory. The communities experience the dramatic seasonal light changes. Arctic Bay enjoys the nearly three months of midnight sun between May and August.

In the winter, polar night blankets the region with darkness and transformed the snowy landscape into a scene lit primarily by the moonlight and auroras.

5. Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Utqiaġvik which is formerly known as Barrow is the northernmost city in the United States. In this area, sun remains above the horizon from mid May to early August.

The opposite situation occurs in the winters where the entire area remain in darkness for at least two months.

6. Rovaniemi, Finland

It is known as the hometown of Santa Claus and Rovaniemi sits near to the Arctic Circle and experiences the multiple weeks of continuous daylight during summer.

Winter brings the short daylight hours, snowy landscapes and the excellent opportunities to witness the Northern Lights in the Finland.

7. Murmansk, Russia

Murmansk is the largest city which is located above the Arctic Circle. From late May to late July period, this city enjoys uninterrupted daylight.

Despite the heavy long winter darkness Murmansk remains as the vibrant with cultural events and stunning aurora displays and which attracting the visitors.

8. Ilulissat, Greenland

As Ilulissat in Greenland famous for breathtaking icefjord and giant drifting icebergs, residents experiences the midnight sun from late May through July.

During the polar night season this region reflects the stunning views of the Northern Lights which are dancing across Greenland’s icy skies.

9. Antarctic Peninsula

The Antarctic Peninsula experiences the continuous daylight during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer tiem from late October to late February.

During the winters the darkness dominates the landscape and it broken only by the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis) and starlit skies.

This remains as one of the most remote and the extreme environment place on the Earth.