In a town located in the far north of the United States, darkness has enveloped the area for several weeks. Yes, in the town of Utqiagvik in Alaska, the sun that set recently will not rise again until the end of January.
The sun set for the last time this year in the town on November 18. Now, the town will remain in darkness until January 22, 2025, which means that for 64 days, the residents will not witness the sunrise.
On November 18, in this town with a population of 4,000, the sun rose at 12:35 PM and set 30 minutes later, marking the start of the long polar night. Located within the Arctic Circle, the town experiences the polar night every year.
This occurs when the Earth’s axis tilts in such a way that, during winter in the Arctic Circle, the sun remains below the horizon for several weeks. In contrast, during the summer months, the region experiences 24-hour daylight, known as the Midnight Sun.
It’s worth noting that in the northern hemisphere, the length of daylight begins to decrease after late June, but this effect is more pronounced in northern regions. In these areas, the daylight duration significantly reduces by September.
During the two-month long night, some light will still be visible in Alaska’s Utqiagvik, but it will not resemble a typical sunrise or sunset.
