In the summertime, Alaska experiences 24-hour long daylight for months at a time.
Two people watching the Midnight Sun. Aha24. CC BY-NC 2.0.
“The Land of the Midnight Sun” is the nickname given to the state of Alaska. In certain areas of the state, the sun does not fully set for months – typically between April and August – granting Alaskans and travelers roughly 24 hours of daylight. Additionally, this extra daylight allows for a unique phenomena that has given Alaska its greatest nickname; with daylight occurring even in the late hours of the evening, the sun can be seen even when the clock strikes midnight, donning Alaska the Land of the Midnight Sun. Alaskans and travelers alike visit locations in Alaska specifically for the pleasure to witness and experience this event.
The phenomena of the Midnight Sun occurs due to the relationship between the Earth’s axial tilt and how the planet rotates the sun. The rotation of the Earth around the sun is what allows our planet to experience seasons that cycle every year with the globe's movement. The northern hemisphere of the Earth experiences summer time in the months between April and August due to the fact that the North Pole points in the direction of the sun during these months. Alaska, being extremely close to the North Pole, experiences summer during these months as well.
In understanding how the rotation of the Earth allows for the seasons to change, we can then use the Earth’s axial tilt to explain why the Midnight Sun phenomena occurs in the summer. Already facing the sun due to the rotation of the Earth, the tilt of the globe – which is 23.5 degrees – places the North Pole directly into the sunlight coming from the star. This means that the North Pole - and surrounding areas like Alaska – face the sun continuously for around 4 months straight, causing the sun to rarely dip below the horizon. In this way, the Midnight Sun is a result of the combination between the Earth’s rotation and its axial tilt.
This long occurrence of sunlight also serves to explain and off put the two months of darkness Alaska experiences as well. When the North pole is not tilted towards the sun, and the earth has rotated around the sun into winter months, the North Pole – and subsequently Alaska – experiences what is called a Polar Night, where the sun doesn’t rise for nearly 60 days. That means Alaskans, especially those in more northern parts of the state, experience blackness during the winter months of November through January.
Alaska in green near the North Pole. Theron Trowbridge. CC BY-NC 2.0.
The further in Alaska you travel north during the summer, the longer the days become and the higher chances you will have of seeing the Midnight Sun. In Barrow, Alaska, the northernmost place in Alaska, the sun through the summer months does not set. That means that Barrow experiences 84 days of constant daylight straight, without a single sunset. In Fairbanks, which is at the lower center of the state and a few hundred miles south than Barrow, the sun can be seen for 21 hours a day. In Anchorage it is 19 hours and in Seward it is 18 hours.
For Alaskan’s that have been living in darkness during long winters, the Midnight Sun and long days of sunshine are a welcome occurrence. The thrill of enjoying the daylight for extended periods of time brings Alaskans out of a pseudo-hibernation. Climatologist Dr. Brian Brettschneider told the Weather Channel, “Not once have I heard an Alaskan say they don’t like long days. It isn’t uncommon to hear a lawnmower running or kids outside at 11 p.m.”
Midnight Sun behind clouds. PoetheusFotos. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
Brettschneider also mentioned that many who live in Alaska and work during the day use the extra hours of daylight to further enjoy their downtime. Outdoor activities like hiking are made possible after work because of the additional daylight during late hours.
For travelers visiting Alaska, the summer months are the most popular for the same reason. Able to really make the most of their time there, travelers can explore more areas of the beautiful wildlife found in the state, while witnessing once in a lifetime natural occurrences like the Midnight Sun.
Ava Mamary
Ava is an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois, double majoring in English and Communications. At school, she Web Writes about music for a student-run radio station. She is also an avid backpacker, which is where her passion for travel and the outdoors comes from. She is very passionate about social justice issues, specifically those involving women’s rights, and is excited to write content about social action across the globe.