Utqiaġvik, a town located at the northernmost point of Alaska, is experiencing a fascinating scientific phenomenon.
Due to its unique position at a latitude of 71.29 N, 531 km north of the Arctic Circle, this remote town will be completely immersed in darkness for 67 days. This phenomenon is also known as “polar night.”
Morning scene in Utqiaġvik on November 18. (Photo: University of Alaska at Fairbanks).
“During polar night, the position of the Sun is such that no part of it can shine upon this location. This phenomenon occurs only within the polar circle,” states TimeandDate.com.
For a long time, as the Earth begins to tilt away from the Sun, most areas above the Arctic Circle are enveloped in darkness. Polar night can last up to 6 months. At that time, the further north you go, the darker the surrounding sky becomes.
The extended winter has negatively impacted life in Utqiaġvik. Vitamin D and light therapy lamps have become essential until daylight returns. The majority of the population comprises the indigenous Iñupiat of Alaska, who typically work in the nearby oil extraction industry.
The remote location complicates transportation, resulting in high and scarce goods. The primary food sources are self-sustained, relying on hunting whales, reindeer, seals, and birds.
However, during the time without sunlight, many interesting events will occur, captivating numerous travel enthusiasts: stunning optical phenomena such as the northern lights and shooting stars; unique festivals like Qulliq (lamp festival) and Muktuk (festival of whale blubber)…
Due to its unique position, the timing of sunrise and sunset in the Northern Hemisphere will be unlike any other place on Earth. (Photo: NOAA).
Conversely, during summer, the sun will shine continuously for 24 hours a day. The sun even illuminates the night from May 11 to August 18.
According to Alaska.org, the sun set on November 18, 2020. After 67 days in darkness, the town of Utqiaġvik will witness sunrise on January 23, 2021, three days after the United States officially has a new president.
However, according to the National Weather Service – Fairbanks, the sun will still appear for about 3 hours in Utqiaġvik during polar night. This is a rare period when the sun is less than 6 degrees below the horizon.
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