When most people tink about Alaska, they likely imagine days full of sunshine with long hours of daylight. But what many people don’t realize is that for a period of about six months out of the year, much of Alaska experiences near-constant darkness.
This phenomenon occurs in the northernmost city in America, Utqia?vik (formerly known as Barrow). Starting from mid- to late November until late January, Utqia?vik will experience a 60-plus-day period where the sun never rises. This dark winter season is due to its location along the Arctic Circle and is known as polar night.
During this time, those living in Utqia?vik will not be able to witness any daylight for two months. The sky may still be illuminated by the moon and stars during this time but it is still considered much darker than normal.
Despite this phenomenon occurring in Utqia?vik, it doesn’t mean that all of Alaska is dark for six months out of the year. While it may be darker during the winter season due to its location on the globe, Alaska still experiences varying hours of sunlight and darkness throughout all four seasons.
If you’re a night owl who enjoys staying up late or admiring the beauty of nature at night, then you may want to cosider spending your winters in northern Alaska!
Darkness in Alaska for Six Months
Utqia?vik, Alaska is the northernmost city in America, and it experiences near-constant darkness from mid-November to late January. This period of darkness lasts for more than 60 days, as the sun never rises during that time. Utqia?vik is located in the extreme north of Alaska and lies within the Arctic Circle. During this 6-month period, the area experiences 24 hours of darkness each day, with no daylight whatsoever.
Does Alaska Experience Six Months of Darkness Each Year?
No, Alaska does not stay dark for six months out of the year. While it is true that Alaska experiences extended hours of darkness throughout the winter season, this is due to its location on the globe, rather than a lack of sunlight. In fact, during the winter months in many parts of Alaska, there can be anywhere from 9 to 17 hours of daylight each day. Furthermore, depending on where you are located in the state and what season it is, you may experience periods where you have more than 24 hours of daylight or more than 24 hours of darkness. All in all, Alaska experiences varying amounts of sunlight and darkness all year long.
Locations Where It Is Dark for Six Months of the Year
The misconception that Iceland is dark for 6 months of the year is due to its location along the Arctic Circle. While Iceland does experience long periods of darkness in winter, it doesn’t actually have 6 months of total darkness. This phenomenon – called polar night – occurs around the Arctic Circle, were countries like Finland, Sweden, Norway and parts of Russia experience up to two months of total darkness. In Iceland itself, the longest period of darkness lasts just under 40 days. During this time, there will be periods when the sun is visible during the day but at very low angles due to its position below the horizon.
The farther north you go within Iceland, however, the longer and darker those periods become. At Grimsey Island (the northernmost part of Iceland), polar night lasts for around 50 days each winter. That said, even during these long winter nights there will usually be some amount of light from either a full moon or from auroras caused by solar activity in the atmosphere.
Overall, while it is true that Iceland experiences long periods of darkness during winter months and does lie alng the Arctic Circle where you can find places with up to 6 months of total darkness, it does not itself see a full 6 months without sunlight.
Does Alaska Experience 90 Days of Darkness?
No, Alaska does not have 90 days of darkness. The region of northern Alaska around Utqiagvik experiences a period of polar night where the sun does not rise for about 65 days from late November to late January. During this time, the area is dark 24 hours a day. After the 65-day period has ended, there is still an extended twilight where the sun is still below the horizon but some light can still be seen in the sky. This twilight period lasts until late February or early March depending on location and time zone.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Alaska does not experience six months of darkness each year. The northernmost cities in the state, such as Utqia?vik (formerly Barrow), experience long periods of darkness during winter due to their location on the globe. However, even with its northern latitude, the state still receives varying hours of sunlight and darkness throughout the year. Therefore, while it may seem that Alaska is dark for six months of the year, it is atually not true.
