Do you think you could take not seeing the sun for six to seven weeks? Or even four months? This is real life for us in Northern Norway. But if you come, you’ll experience rich culture and beautiful light.
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Imagine nights that last 20 hours, and weeks without seeing the sun. That is real life in large areas of Northern Norway. And just imagine, many people who live in the north think that this is the finest time of the year, with fantastic skyscapes and magical lights. A visit during the dark months is a warming experience!
We are hidden on the back side of the Planet during winter
Just like the midnight sun, the Polar Night is attributable to the inclination of the planet. In the same way that globes are often mounted at an angle on their stands, Earth itself is angled to one side. Winter comes around when the northern hemisphere is farthest from the sun, and the Polar regions in the north are that part of the planet that are angled farthest away. In other words, the rest of the planet blocks off the sun! Wikipedia has a more detailed description.
The Polar Night can last days to months depending on your location
On the North Cape, the sun remains under the horizon for more than two months, while in Tromsø the phenomenon lasts for six weeks or so. In Lofoten, the dark period is short, just under four weeks. From Bodø and farther south, the sun does actually appear even in the deepest mid-winter, lighting up the winter landscape briefly around midday. At the other end of the scale is Svalbard, where the sun disappears completely for almost four months!
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It is never completely dark all the time
Even though the sun remains below the horizon, Northern Norway is not blacked out completely. On clear days, we can see beautiful sunset colours in the south while the sky to the north is a deep midnight blue. On Svalbard, however, it is fully dark even at midday for several weeks around Christmas.
The “blue hour” is the most iconic period of the day
Around 1–2 o’clock in the afternoon, the residual light is reflected off the blue sea and the white snow, and the landscape is bathed in a glassy deep blue colour. This wonderful blue stays with us as long as the snow covers the ground and there is twilight. However, the blue hour occurs a few minutes later every day during winter, as the sun gains strenght.
Life goes on as normal in Norther Norway
The people of Northern Norway have lived with the dark months for the past 10,000 years or so. They go to work and to school as usual, and the range of leisure activities available in the evenings is broad and varied. Cafés, restaurants and nightspots fill up night after night with talkative, good-humoured people, and many entertaining festivals are held during this period. Outdoor activities are far from impossible. There are illuminated ski runs in even small resorts in Northern Norway, and some operators organise dog-sledding and scooter trips where participants wear head-lights.
We are a little more tired, but are otherwise in good spirits
Most people in Northern Norway feel that they need a little more sleep, and everyone tends to go to bed a little earlier. Otherwise, Northerners experience few problems in the dark months, and there is no noticeable increase in depression and alcohol abuse. In fact, we handle this period much better than people from southern climes would think – perhaps because we know that it doesn’t last all that long.
There is no noticeable increase in depression or alcohol abuse during the polar night
In the Polar Night you can meet us in our winter home
To visit Northern Norway during the dark months is to meet us Northerners at home. It is a great time for cultural events, festivals, good food, Christmas shopping and outdoor activities. Bring your sweetheart for a romantic long weekend in the far north – it is the perfect setting for spending quality time together by the light of flickering candles. The spawning cod swim in close to the shore, and your taste buds rejoice. Snow scooter trips, dog-sledding and sleigh rides are organised in many places in Northern Norway and on Svalbard, and this is a great time of year to see the Northern Lights.
In Bodø the sun is over the horizon for 50 minutes at the winter solstice. Even though the city lies north of the Arctic Circle, the sun appears due to an optical illusion in the atmosphere. Despite this, you don’t see the sun, it is hiding behind the back of Børvasstindan. In Strøkene south from Bodø you can see the sun all year long, but stays low on the horizon, creating a drawn out sunset throughout midday.
Total Polar Night consumes Svalbard
In Northern Norway, there is normally at least some light even at the winter solstice. On Svalbard, however, there is no light at all. In Longyearbyen there is no daylight from the 11. November to the 30. January. when the sun lies more than 6 degrees below the horizon, Polar Night is declared.
How long is the Polar Night across Northern Norway
The polar night is between 25th November and 17th of January in Alta.
The polar night in Andenes lasts from the 29th of November until the 13th of January.
Many places have mountains to the south. Bodø, therefore, doesn’t technically have Polar Night, despite not seeing direct sunlight. In Tromsø the sun returns over the horizon on the 15th of January, but the celebrated Sun Day is not until the 21. January, when the sun is seen in the city center over the mountains.
The polar night in Berlevåg lasts from 21st of November until the 21st of January.
The polar night in Bardufoss is between the 30th of November and 12th of January.
The polar night in Hammerfest lasts from the 22nd of November until the 20th of January
The polar night in Harstad lasts from the 2nd of December until the 10th of January.
The polar night at the North Cape lasts from the 20th of November until the 22nd of January.
The North Pole experiences the longest polar night in the world, and it lasts from the 25th of September until the 18th of March.
The polar night in Longyearbyen lasts from the 26th of October until the 16th of February
Between 7th of December and 5th of January
The polar night in Tromsø is between the 27th of November and the 15th of January.
In Vardø, the polar night lasts from the 23rd of November until the 19th of January.
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Bodø og SaltenBodø 2024 – European Capital of CultureCulture and history
HarstadSet Sail for the Northern Lights in Harstad
SenjaKayaking among Ice Floes in Senja is a Low Pulse Experience
As someone deeply immersed in the understanding of polar phenomena and northern climates, I can confidently explain the concepts intertwined within the text regarding the Polar Night, a remarkable natural occurrence experienced in Northern Norway. The Polar Night is a period marked by prolonged darkness, when the sun remains below the horizon for an extended duration.
The Polar Night occurs due to the Earth's axial tilt, which causes varying degrees of sunlight exposure throughout the year. During winter, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, leading to areas like Northern Norway experiencing extended periods without direct sunlight. This phenomenon is most prominent in Polar regions due to their extreme angle away from the sun, causing days without any visible sunlight.
Throughout the article, several concepts related to the Polar Night and its effects are highlighted:
Polar Night Duration: The duration of the Polar Night varies across different regions. It can last for days to several months, with varying lengths depending on the specific location. For instance, in Tromsø, it lasts around six weeks, while in Svalbard, the sun disappears for nearly four months.
Twilight and Light: Even during the Polar Night, complete darkness doesn't prevail. There are periods of twilight and residual light. The "blue hour" is a notable period when residual light creates a beautiful deep blue hue across the landscape, reflecting off snow and sea.
Daily Life and Activities: Despite the darkness, life in Northern Norway persists as usual. People engage in work, school, and a range of leisure activities during the evenings, including illuminated skiing, dog-sledding, and various cultural events.
Mental and Emotional Effects: Contrary to common belief, the Polar Night doesn't significantly increase depression or alcohol abuse among the residents. Instead, locals adapt well to the conditions, adjusting their sleep schedules and embracing the uniqueness of the period.
Geographical Variances: The duration and intensity of the Polar Night differ across various locations in Northern Norway. Places like Bodø might experience a perpetual twilight due to the sun's low position on the horizon, while Svalbard encounters complete darkness for an extended period.
Dates and Duration of Polar Night: Specific dates of the Polar Night are mentioned for various towns and cities across Northern Norway, emphasizing the variability in the length of this phenomenon from place to place.
Furthermore, the text provides insights into the cultural experiences and activities available during the Polar Night, highlighting the vibrant life and unique attractions, including festivals, outdoor adventures, and the chance to witness the Northern Lights.
For individuals interested in experiencing this extraordinary period or seeking information about specific regions in Northern Norway like Bodø, Harstad, Senja, or cultural events like Bodø 2024 – European Capital of Culture, this text serves as a comprehensive guide showcasing the beauty and resilience of life during the Polar Night in Northern Norway.
The Polar Night can last days to months depending on your location. On the North Cape, the sun remains under the horizon for more than two months, while in Tromsø the phenomenon lasts for six weeks or so. In Lofoten, the dark period is short, just under four weeks.
Polar night is a phenomenon in the northernmost and southernmost regions of Earth where night lasts for more than 24 hours. This occurs only inside the polar circles. The opposite phenomenon, polar day, or midnight sun, occurs when the Sun remains above the horizon for more than 24 hours.
As night falls over the south of the country, in northern Norway the sun lingers, and it can be seen crossing the sky throughout the night. This natural phenomenon has many names – “Polar Day”, “White Night”, “Nightless Night” – but the most common is the “Midnight Sun”.
Svalbard is a group of islands between Norway and the North Pole. It's pretty much as far north as you can go without joining an arctic science expedition. Svalbard is famous for attracting visitors during the polar night season of mid-November to the end of January.
One such country that experiences six months of night is Norway. Located in the northernmost regions, parts of Norway, particularly within the Arctic Circle, witness a phenomenon known as the polar night.
Simply put, polar night refers to a period of time when the Sun does not rise above the horizon for more than 24 hours. It occurs in winter north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle, which are circumpolar lines at latitude 66.6 degrees North and South respectively.
How long does the polar night last? The full length of the polar night depends on your latitude. The average duration for most destinations is around 30 days, but more northerly locations can enjoy as almost two months of darkness. If you were situated at one of the poles this would last for around 11 weeks.
6 months night and 6 months day is only at the North and South poles where nobody lives. But in the island of Svalbard, Norway, at 78 degrees of latitude North, the night lasts 4 months from end October to end February.
The Poles experience about six months of day and six months of night because of the tilt of the Earth on its axis. Because of this tilt each Pole is tilted towards and away from the Sun for about six months each. When the North Pole is tilted towards the Sun it experiences continuous daylight for six months.
During the weeks before and after the Polar Night we experience the phenomenon of twilight. During these weeks the sun is positioned below the horizon so that the blue particles of light are bent by the atmosphere, resulting in the Arctic landscape being coloured in blue.
The town of Longyearbyen in Svalbard, Norway, is another place where the sun never rises during winter due to its position within the Arctic Circle. Lastly, in Antarctica, several research stations experience polar nights, with some regions having no daylight for months at a time.
Located more than 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø, Norway, is home to extreme light variation between seasons. During the Polar Night, which lasts from November to January, the sun doesn't rise at all.
The closer to the poles, the longer polar night lasts: at the North Pole, for example, the Sun sets a few days after the autumnal equinox in mid-September and does not rise again until mid-March, giving the top of the world a polar night of 179 days.
Winter nights are long throughout Norway. From the middle of November until the end of January, the sun doesn't rise at all, or just briefly peaks out over the horizon, in most parts of Northern Norway.
76 days of midnight sun between May and July greets travelers in Northern Norway. The further north you go, the more nights of midnight sun you get. During the summer months, you can experience up to 24 hours of sunlight above the Arctic Circle, which means more time to enjoy the sights and make new discoveries.
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