Midnight Sun

In the state of Alaska sunlight hours are very different and unique from the rest of the United States. Alaska is often referred to as "The Land of the Midnight Sun". This is an appropriate name for Alaska in the summer.

Due to the high latitude of the state, it is subject to extreme hours of daylight in the summer and darkness in the winter. The arctic circle is an imaginary line that extends in an arc across the upper third of Alaska, at approximately 66 degrees 33' north of the equator.

At this latitude summer and winter solstice occur. The term solstice refers to the point when the sun is at its greatest distance from the equator. In the summer, the day of solstice occurs on June 20 or 21. On this date is the longest length of daylight. In winter, the day of solstice occurs on December 21 or 22. This day is the shortest length of daylight. At the Arctic Circle the sun does not rise at all on this day, but in the small town of Barrow (northern most point of Alaska) , the sun does not rise at all for 67 days.

Photo by: AK Divison of Tourism

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