Sun Set to Rise for First Time in 2 Months in Utqiagvik, Alaska

Posted: January 19, 2023 9:34 am

How Residents of Utqiagvik Get Through the Polar Night

The cliche “the sun always rises” is not necessarily true in some parts of the world. The northernmost town of the U.S. has not seen the sun since the middle of November. For those residents of Utqiagvik, Alaska, January 23 is circled on the calendar, marking the first time that the sun will rise this year.

About Utqiagvik, Alaska and its Polar Night

Utquigvik is located over 300 miles north of the Arctic circle, positioned at the top of the state of Alaska. Formerly known as Barrow, Utqiagvik is distinguished as the northernmost city in the country. The town of about 5,000 residents is cut off from roads connecting it to the rest of its state, positioned between the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. Most of the people that call Utquigvik home are Iñupiat Alaskan Natives.

The town will enjoy the sun’s rays for about 70 minutes on Monday, ending the period of time known to those in this community as the polar night. The official sunrise is at 1:03 pm.

The Northern Hemisphere moves away from the sun during the colder winter months. This movement away from the sun puts areas that are located the closest to the North Pole into a long period of darkness. While some areas of the extreme Northern Hemisphere may be without the sun for a few days or weeks, this prolonged period can last even longer in some remote areas. For instance, this time without the sun lasts for about two months each year in Utqiagvik.

While the absence of the sun certainly raises the need for artificial light, it is not a complete shroud of darkness over Utqiagvik during these two months. What scientists call the civil twilight happens each day for several hours, creating light from celestial objects during what the clock indicates as the daytime.

The Celebration of the Polar Night

Most people would balk at the idea of no sunlight for two months. However, residents of this tight-knit town call the atmosphere festive and connected. Residents look forward to the time to come together and slow down. Utqiagvik ratchets up its town center lights during this time of the year, adding a warm glow to the community.

January 23 is celebrated as a day of new beginnings, reminding people that the light will always come. The added opportunities to catch the northern lights is a bonus during this time of the year.

Surviving the Darkness

The people of Utqiagvik have also learned to adapt to this period of darkness. It is not unusual for residents to regularly lean on sunlight from lamps in order to fend off the seasonal blues. Many people also turn to vitamin D during this time.

Experts say that it also helps to embrace the beauty of the darkness and get outside frequently. Staying active will go a long way in getting through this challenging period.

One of the biggest difficulties is that the temperature is also bitterly cold. The average temperature this time of the year is 5 degrees below zero. This means that residents need to bundle up any time they head outside and plan accordingly.

Ironically, the coldest time of the year happens after the polar night. Just because the sun starts making longer appearances, it does not mean that the mercury will quickly follow.

In addition, the town also experiences the opposite occurrence during the summer when it sees almost 24 hours of daylight.

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