Who has never dreamed of seeing the solar star still alive, in the heart of the “night”, bathing the landscapes in an exceptional and almost unreal light? From June to August, depending on the latitudes and territories, this unforgettable experience can be enjoyed, beyond the polar circles, and more particularly around June 21, the date of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. Head to Scandinavia, Finland, Alaska and Canada with our best spots to observe the sun that never sleeps.
What is the midnight sun?
The midnight sun is a phenomenon that can be experienced during the summer season in regions beyond the polar circles, arctic and antarctic. During a period which extends from several days to several weeks, depending on the latitude, the sun never drops below the horizon, creating a continuous day. It then takes on a yellow and reddish color, close to that of sunrises and sunsets, imbuing the landscapes with a light unique in the world.
The closer you get to the pole, the longer the period of the midnight sun. At the North Pole and South Pole, the sun stays above the horizon for about six months. This particularity of the boreal and southern regions is due to the fact that the Earth rotates around an axis inclined relative to the sun. During the summer of each hemisphere, Earth’s axis is tilted toward our star, allowing certain high-latitude regions to receive continuous light for 24 hours.
In the southern hemispherethe midnight sun is mainly visible only from the Antarctic continent, a region difficult to access.
In the northern hemisphereon the other hand, it can be observed in regions such as northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Russia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland.
All these destinations offer exceptional landscapes to discover at “night”. The best time to visit them under the midnight sun is around June 21, date of the summer solstice.
Where to see the midnight sun in Europe?
In Norwayin addition to the spectacular view of Tromsogateway to the Arctic, the North Cape, the northernmost site in continental Europe, attracts many visitors eager to experience this astonishing natural phenomenon which lasts for more than a month. Among other notable destinations, Lofoten and Vesterålen islandsTHE Svalbard and the Finnmark (Norwegian Lapland). The dates for observing the midnight sun by destination are communicated on the Visit Norway website.
In Swedenthe mining town of Kiruna, the northernmost of the kingdom, offers several sites for observing the midnight sun visible from late May to mid-July. Let us first cite thee Mount Luossavaara, A former mining site close to the town center and accessible on foot or by car, which offers a high vantage point over Kiruna and the surrounding area. For seasoned hiking enthusiasts, the KebnekaiseSweden’s highest peak, is undoubtedly the site that promises an unforgettable panorama.
About an hour and a half drive from Kiruna, the Abisko National Parkin Swedish Lapland, is one of the best places in the world to view the Northern Lights, thanks in large part to its generally clear skies and optimal geographic location. But in summer, hikers can take advantage of the permanent daylight to explore its trails which cross varied landscapes, from high mountains to expanses of tundra and thick forests. On the outskirts of the park extends the lake Torneträsk, one of Sweden’s largest lakes, surrounded by mountains, whose calm waters beautifully reflect the lights of the midnight sun. Also the Aurora Sky Station, from where you can easily observe the sky.
Finally, the Jokkmokk region and the north of Gulf of Bothnia are also interesting spots for observing the midnight sun, just like the famous path of Kungsleden hike.
In Finlandlovers of “day-night” lights will reach the city of Rovaniemicapital of Finnish Lapland located south of the Arctic Circle and self-proclaimed “home of Santa Claus”. Further north, in Finnish Lapland adjoining the border with Norway and Russia, the town ofInari offers stunning natural scenery, including coniferous forests and crystal clear lakes. Whose Lake Inarithe third largest lake in Finland, dotted with more than 3,000 islands!
Icelandlocated on the southern edge of the Polar Circle, also lives under the midnight sun in its northernmost areas, more particularly on the north and west coasts. And in particular to Akureyriwith favorable waters has whale watching. There vsGodafoss waterfall, often called the “waterfall of the gods” and located about 30 minutes’ drive from Akureyri, promises beautiful night escapes.
If Russia is today banned from tourist destinations due to the war in Ukraine, Saint PETERSBOURG is known for its “white nights” during which shows and activities are organized in the streets of the city and on the banks of the Neva.
On the other side of the sea Greenlandthe largest island in the world, the capital Nuuk can be visited at night. Meet at midnight at the Colonial Port, the oldest district of Nuuk, made up of historic colorful houses and cafes, overlooked by the silhouette of the iconic Sermitsiaq mountain. For the more sporty, the Ukkusissaq and Quassussuaq mountains offer panoramic views of Nuuk and its fjord.
THE + from routard.com:
In the great outdoors, the must, especially in Finland, is to stay in a lakeside cottage and try the midnight sauna-bath experience while observing the solar star that never sleeps, or go for a hike in the forest (watch out for mosquitoes!). In Norway, you can carry out sea trips for whale watching or sea kayaking, just like in the Gulf of Bothnia in Sweden. In Iceland, observations at sea and swimming in the geothermal pools are prized.
In town, holidays and festivals are organized during the period of the midnight sun, such as the Kiruna festival in Sweden, that of Midnight Sun in Finnish Lapland or the white nights of Helsinki, as well as concerts in Tromsø.
Where to see the midnight suns in North America?
Across the Atlantic, the Canada and theAlaska also experience, in their most remote regions, the phenomenon of the midnight sun.
The Alaskan city of Barrow (Utqiaġvik), one of the northernmost cities in the United States, reveals sweeping landscapes lit by the midnight sun from late May to late July. HAS Fairbankson the edge of the Arctic Circle, the city organizes events to celebrate the summer solstice. No me, on the Bering Sea coast, also offers spectacular sunlit vistas around the summer solstice.
On the Canadian side, an immense territory is bathed in eternal daylight during the summer period. Among the cities affected by the phenomenon are: Inuvik, a locality located in the northwest regions, which enjoys 56 consecutive days of midnight sun from late May to mid-July. In the northwest territories of Canada, Tuktoyaktuk And Yellowknife are bathed in the summer season by a twilight light, close to a midnight sun. Another prime territory for the midnight sun: the Nunavutland of the Inuit, in the very north of the country.
Midnight sun in Tromsø, Norway
Tromsø, June 6, 2024. In this northern Norwegian city, the clock hand points to 11 p.m., but the sun still shines above the icy-capped mountains.
After crossing an impressive arched bridge over the Tromsøysundet Strait, which connects for a kilometer theisland of Tromsøya to the continent where the famous “Arctic Cathedral” with its astonishing triangular shapes stands, the bus drops us off a few hundred meters from the entrance to the Fjellheisen : this is a cable car open until midnight, which leads at the top of the Mount Storsteinen And has a splendid panoramic view of Tromsø, the fjords and the surrounding massifs.
A café built on the mountainside allows you to enjoy the landscape bathed in unusual light before heading back down via the ring road, which starts every half hour. It is midnight when he takes the last visitors back to the foot of Mount Storsteinen and the city is still bathed in light.
Factsheet
Consult our online guides Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Alaska and Canada
Visit Norway
Visit Sweden
Visit Finland
Visit Iceland
Canada: Explore Endlessly
Text : Anne Bourbigot
On-line : June 17, 2024
