Do you like it when night falls so you can watch the stars and the moon in the sky? Have you ever thought of spending a few months in daylight or darkness alone? At the poles of the Earth, this really happens!
Between October and March at the South Pole, and from April to September at the North Pole, an amazing phenomenon takes over the sky: the midnight sun. Because of the inclination of the planet in relation to the plane of its orbit around the Sun, the movement that the Sun makes in the sky is circular, always close to the horizon over the poles during one half of the year. The day never leaves, the star only changes its position. The countries of the midnight sun are also the countries where the sun never rises during the winter.
In the summer months, the days get up to 24 hours of light above the Arctic Circle, which allows you to make the most of the scenery and make new discoveries. In northernmost areas of some countries, while the sun never sets during the summer the sun never rises during the winter.
1) Norway
Norway is known as the land of the midnight sun. The best option to see it is to go to the northern part of the country. On the Svalbard Islands, between the end of April and the end of August, you can still see polar bears on the glacier tours. The Lofoten Islands, which have well-defined seasons, have the phenomenon from the end of May to mid-July. The intense and constant sun reveals the green of the natural landscapes, unveiling the beauty of the famous fjords.
2) Russia
The ancient capital of Russia, St. Petersburg, is a city full of history, art and architecture. During the summer, between the end of June and September, the White Nights Festival is held, with performances of ballets, operas, and other artistic performances. The city prepares to receive many visitors in search of the midnight sun.
3) Alaska
The city of Fairbanks is in the interior of Alaska. The midnight sun can be seen from April to August, but it is only in June that the light is visible for 24 hours. The phenomenon is so important to the town that the Midnight Sun Festival is held to celebrate the solstice. There are hours and hours of music, baseball and golf games, cultural presentations, and many food stalls.
4) Finland
The city of Rovaniemi is the capital of Finnish Lapland. Due to its geographical situation, it is considered to be the birthplace of Santa Claus. It is one of the best regions to follow the midnight sun. Visitors can have many amazing experiences: hiking with Siberian huskie dogs, walking on the frozen lake, and taking many clicks with magnificent views.
While you can enjoy the long daytime during the summer and you can do all kinds of activities in such areas, you can also enjoy astonishing phenomena of aurora during the winter time when the sun never rises for a few months.
