Like a prolonged sunset and sunrise all at once, this natural phenomenon colours heaven and earth in a reddish yellow light
Norway.
Welcome to the land of the midnight sun
It’s tempting to wonder about all the sights and experiences that have been made under the midnight sun through the ages – by people who lived off the sea in the Lofoten and Vesterålen archipelagos, or the Sami reindeer herders of the far north.
The phenomenon has at least made a lasting impression on several Norwegian artists and writers. This excerpt is from Knut Hamsun’s Pan (1894): “Night was coming on again; the sun just dipped into the sea and rose again, red, refreshed, as if it had been down to drink. I could feel more strangely on those nights than anyone would believe.”
The midnight sun in Norway
Like a prolonged sunset and sunrise all at once, this natural phenomenon colours heaven and earth in a reddish yellow light. Welcome to the land of the midnight sun.
What is the midnight sun?
The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs during the summer in places south of the Antarctic Circle and north of the Arctic Circle – including Northern Norway.
The earth is rotating at a tilted axis relative to the sun, and during the summer months, the North Pole is angled towards our star. That’s why, for several weeks, the sun never sets above the Arctic Circle.
Svalbard is the place in Norway where the midnight sun occurs for the longest period. Here, the sun doesn’t set between 20 April and 22 August.
It’s tempting to wonder about all the sights and experiences that have been made under the midnight sun through the ages – by people who lived off the sea in the Lofoten and Vesterålen archipelagos, or the Sami reindeer herders of the far north.
The phenomenon has at least made a lasting impression on several Norwegian artists and writers. This excerpt is from Knut Hamsun’s Pan (1894): “Night was coming on again; the sun just dipped into the sea and rose again, red, refreshed, as if it had been down to drink. I could feel more strangely on those nights than anyone would believe.”
Midnight sun at Sommarøy, Northern Norway
All through summer, the sun never sets at Sommarøy in Northern Norway.
Travel to the areas above the Arctic Circle in Norway and live these moments yourself. Doing a whale safari or exploring the wilderness inland takes on a new dimension at night in the summer months, when you literally get to see the nature and wildlife in a different light.
If you’re not afraid of the sometimes chilly summer nights in the north, you could try a midnight swim or pitch your tent in the wild. Many sights and activities are open at night during these weeks’ endless days, so you can go midnight golfing, cycling, river paddling, or sea kayaking – or maybe just find a quiet spot to fish.
If you travel to the Arctic islands of Svalbard, the sun stays up from April to late August. Here, you can do a midnight hike on a glacier (with a guide, of course) or watch the reddish sky from a moving dog sledge in the unique climate and nature near the North Pole.
INFO
Find more activities under the midnight sun.
Photo Marius Fiskum – Visit Norway
