Even though it is the largest state in the US, Alaska’s population is sparse. With 24-hour daylight during the summer months and 24-hour darkness during the winter, many people find Alaska to be a strange and mysterious place. Here are some debunked myths about the unusual daylight patterns of Alaska.
1. Alaska Gets Six Months of 24-Hour Sunlight and Darkness
Interestingly, this myth was perpetrated by our science books for many years. Only the furthest north and south points have equal parts daylight and darkness throughout the year, and Alaska isn’t north enough to experience six months of either extreme.
The 24-hour daylight and darkness still happen in Alaska, just less so. Barrow is one of Alaska’s northernmost cities and gets complete darkness for two months out of the year. During the summer, the sun doesn’t completely set in Barrow from early May until the end of July.
2. You Can’t Grow Anything in Alaska
With 24-hour darkness (or close to it!) for much of the year along with regular snowfall, many people assume Alaska doesn’t have an agriculture industry. On the contrary! Even though their window is smaller than the rest of the US, the long hours of sunlight create quite a bounty during the spring and summer months. Some of Alaska’s produce grow huge too. Alaska has won world records for their 76-pound rutabaga and 127-pound cabbage.
Another thing to consider is supply and demand. Produce is very expensive to import from out of state, so innovative farmers are using land that is eitherrich from volcanic soil or greenhouses to grow year-round. With over 700+ farms and counting, Alaska is making a name for themselves in potatoes, beets, and other seasonal produce.
3. 24-Hour Light Means the Sun is Always Out
When we think of bright summers or dark winters in Alaska, we’re usually thinking of extremes. Alaska and many other northern parts of the world experience long periods of twilight. There are several types of twilight that happen throughout the months that southern states don’t consider.
During civil twilight, the sun is less than 6 degrees beneath the horizon. Civil twilight is still bright enough for daytime activities to take place, even if you can’t directly see the sun. At 12 degrees beneath the horizon, this is just at the tail end of nautical twilight, which means it’s harder to know where the horizon ends, and the sea begins.
Lastly, at 18 degrees, is astronomical twilight. Astronomical twilight often happens during what people consider many months of “darkness,” but is still technically twilight.
4. Your Body Loses Track of Time
Humans have a natural circadian rhythm that can be thrown off kilter by too much sunlight or darkness. In Alaska, it’s only magnified. People have reported feelings of jetlag during the transitional weeks of these two extremes, feeling unusually tired or foggy-brained. When the sunlight finally comes back in full force during early spring, many have reported “spring mania,” extra happiness, and a sense of energy. By summer, many people partake in midnight sun rituals like going fishing at 10 pm.
Snow or shine, dark or light, Alaska Air Forwarding has been serving Alaska since 1965. We’re experienced in navigating Alaska’s wild terrain and look forward to serving your shipping needs to Alaska.
FAQs
Alaska Gets Six Months of 24-Hour Sunlight and Darkness
How do people in Alaska deal with the darkness? ›
While some Alaskans embrace winter and can resolve the darkness without experiencing forms of depression, others cope by using UV lights, antidepressants and vitamin D supplements. The sun produces vitamin D in our bodies, which is important for keeping depression at bay.
How long is Alaska in total darkness? ›
As the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun in the winter months, communities close to the North Pole experience a phenomenon known as polar night: a period of uninterrupted darkness. In Utqiagvik, this lasts for approximately two months of the year.
Does the sky get dark in Alaska? ›
In Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska's northern town, the sun disappears from the sky for around 51–67 days in the winter. In Anchorage, a coastal city, the shortest day of the year is around four hours. So yes, it gets dark in Alaska.
Why does Alaska stay light all day? ›
the state, the darkest hours of the summer night have the appearance of twilight. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as the Midnight Sun. The Midnight Sun occurs because of the earth's tilt in relation to its orbit around the sun.
Does Alaska ever get dark at night? ›
Even though it is the largest state in the US, Alaska's population is sparse. With 24-hour daylight during the summer months and 24-hour darkness during the winter, many people find Alaska to be a strange and mysterious place. Here are some debunked myths about the unusual daylight patterns of Alaska.
Why does Alaska get dark? ›
As our planet travels around the sun, it's tilted at about 23.5 degrees. This is the reason we experience an unequal amount of sunlight in the northern vs. the southern hemispheres. This tilt causes both the summer and winter solstices, as well as the seasons we all experience at different points across the globe.
Is there 24 hours of darkness in Alaska? ›
In fact, the northernmost city in America – Utqiaġvik, Alaska, formerly known as Barrow – has near-constant darkness from mid- to late November until late January because the sun never rises during that 60-plus-day period. Hours of daylight (sunrise to sunset) on the winter solstice.
Is Alaska dark for 6 months? ›
Contrary to what most people in the rest of the United States think, there aren't 6 months of darkness in Alaska. Even in the farthest northern part of Alaska do they see 6 months of darkness. At worst, in Barrow, the sun will set around November 15th and won't rise again until the end of January.
What is the shortest day in Alaska? ›
Dates are based on the Gregorian calendar. The December solstice (winter solstice) in Anchorage is at 12:20 am on Saturday, December 21, 2024. In terms of daylight, this day is 13 hours, 54 minutes shorter than the June solstice. In most locations north of the equator, the shortest day of the year is around this date.
Fairbanks has long been known as “the Land of the Midnight Sun.” During the Midnight Sun Season which runs from April 22 to August 20 the sun never seems to set. Wake up in the middle of the night to find the sun shining brightly, people out biking and gardening and walking the dog.
What is the colored sky in Alaska? ›
The great auroral displays are spectacular global events during which the Aurora spreads down from the polar regions to cover as much as two thirds of the earth's skies with bright, fast-moving masses of light, often deep red in color.
What is night country in Alaska? ›
It's cold as hell in Ennis, the fictional Alaskan city that serves as the backdrop for True Detective: Night Country. Most of the season takes place in the “polar night,” a monthslong winter period when the northern orientation of the state means the sun never rises.
What is the longest day in Alaska? ›
On June 21, Anchorage gets 22 hours of functional daylight. But the midnight sun still hangs in the sky a long time even after sundown, the sun merely dips under the horizon. The streetlights don't even flicker on. There's plenty of time to explore, celebrate and enjoy Anchorage to the fullest.
What is midnight sun in Alaska? ›
Endless summer days give meaning to the term midnight sun, referring to up to 24-hours of sunlight much of the state basks in from the end of April through mid-August, with the longest day of the year being the summer solstice on June 21.
Why is Alaska called the land of the midnight sun? ›
That's because Alaska can get up to 22 hours of sunlight a day during the summer. Imagine seeing the sun at midnight! That is why Alaska is called the Land of the Midnight Sun. The Earth makes one complete revolution, or circle, around the sun each year.
How does night work in Alaska? ›
Above the Arctic Circle, there are some days in the summer where the sun does not set and some days in the winter when the sun does not rise. The city furthest north, Utqiagvik (formerly known as Barrow), has 60+ days of darkness in the winter (not six months) and 80+ days of light in the summer, not six months.
How do people in Alaska sleep? ›
46.27% of Alaskans use blackout curtains, and 25.87% use sleep aids to help them sleep in the land of the midnight sun. Almost half of the respondents (49.2%) said they sleep more during the winter. 44.8% said the extreme sunlight in the summer does not affect their sleep quality and schedule at all.
Does all of Alaska experience darkness? ›
All of Alaska does not go dark in winter! But the further north you go, the darker it gets.
