Home / Environment / Arctic City Enters 84 Days of Endless Sunshine
Arctic City Enters 84 Days of Endless Sunshine
11 May
Summary
- Utqiagvik's sun set for the last time on Saturday.
- The city will experience 84 days of continuous daylight.
- Earth's axial tilt causes extreme daylight cycles.
In the remote Arctic city of Utqiagvik, the sun has officially ceased setting, ushering in a period of continuous daylight.
Residents observed their final sunset on Saturday, May 10, 2026, marking the commencement of an extraordinary 84-day stretch of uninterrupted sunlight. The sun rose again at 2:57 AM local time and is expected to remain visible until August 2.
This event signifies the beginning of the "Midnight Sun" season for Utqiagvik, a city situated over 500 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. The phenomenon is a direct consequence of Earth's axial tilt of approximately 23.5 degrees, which causes regions above the Arctic Circle to remain illuminated during the Northern Hemisphere's summer months.
While Utqiagvik now enjoys prolonged daylight, its winter months are characterized by over 60 days of complete darkness, known as the "polar night." Scientists study these extreme cycles to gain insights into Earth's orbital mechanics and atmospheric behavior.
