5 Earthly Spots Where Winter Sun Never Rises

Explore five captivating locations across the globe where the winter sun chooses to stay hidden, enveloping these places in an enchanting darkness that lasts for weeks.

Picture this: as winter blankets the world, there are corners of our planet where the sun opts for a prolonged game of hide-and-seek. These locales, known for their polar nights, offer a mystical and surreal experience. They paint landscapes in a breathtaking twilight hue, featuring the mesmerizing dance of the Northern Lights that captivates both locals and adventurous travelers alike.

Conversely, these same areas experience the phenomenon of the midnight sun during summer, basking in continuous daylight for an extended duration.

Let's embark on a journey to uncover these destinations where the sun decides to stay hidden during the winter months.

1. Svalbard, Norway :
Nestled within the Arctic Circle, Svalbard experiences a polar night lasting several weeks. The capital, Longyearbyen, immerses itself in an extended twilight, with the sun setting in late October and reappearing only by mid-February. Visitors here are treated to a rare spectacle—a magical interplay of starlight and the Northern Lights against a snowy landscape.

2. Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska, USA:
As one of the northernmost cities globally, Utqiaġvik in Alaska encounters an extended period of darkness during winters. From late November to late January, the sun remains below the horizon, casting the town into an enchanting polar night.

3. Murmansk, Russia:
Situated above the Arctic Circle, Murmansk experiences polar nights for roughly 40 days during winter. From early December to late January, residents witness the sun skirting the horizon without fully rising. Despite the limited daylight, the city remains vibrant with festivals celebrating the mystical ambiance of the polar night.

4. Nuuk, Greenland:
Greenland's capital, Nuuk, undergoes polar nights from early December to late January. This period blankets the city in an extended twilight, offering a surreal backdrop for winter activities and a unique opportunity to witness the Aurora Borealis dancing over snow-covered landscapes.

5. Lapland, Finland:
In the northernmost parts of Finland, like Lapland, the sun might not peek above the horizon for several weeks during winter's peak. This occurrence stems from Finland's location within the Arctic Circle, where the Earth's axial tilt causes the polar night phenomenon.