In Alaska, the length of darkness varies dramatically depending on the location and the time of year. Due to Alaska’s high latitude, certain regions experience long periods of darkness in winter and long periods of daylight in summer.
Here’s a general breakdown:
- In the Far North (e.g., Barrow/Utqiaġvik):
- Polar Night: From late November to mid-January, Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow) experiences a period of complete darkness, known as the “polar night,” which lasts about 65 days.
- During this time, the sun does not rise above the horizon, although there is some twilight for a few hours each day.
- Further South (e.g., Anchorage):
- In Anchorage, there is no complete polar night, but days become very short in winter. Around the winter solstice (around December 21), Anchorage gets only about 5.5 to 6 hours of daylight, and the rest of the day is dark.
- The length of darkness increases the further north you go. However, there is still a more gradual transition between daylight and night.
- In the Summer:
- The situation reverses in summer, with long periods of daylight. In places like Utqiaġvik, the sun does not set for about 82 days, from mid-May to early August.
The phenomenon of extended daylight and darkness is most noticeable the further north you go in Alaska, with the polar night and midnight sun being key features of the extreme seasons.