1 / 9Above the Arctic Circle and below the Antarctic Circle, winter brings polar night, a natural phenomenon in which the sun stays below the horizon for days or months at a time. This occurs because Earth’s axis is tilted, so high-latitude regions receive no direct sunlight during their winter season. These extended periods of darkness shape life, culture and the rhythm of seasonal change in these remote corners of the world. (Picture: Canva)
2 / 91. Utqiaġvik, Alaska (USA): In Utqiaġvik, the northernmost town in the United States, the sun dips below the horizon in mid-November and doesn’t rise again until late January, resulting in around 64 days without direct sunlight. Residents experience a long twilight and even catch the aurora borealis dancing in the dark skies during this time. Despite the deep cold, civil twilight and moonlight soften the darkness and guide daily life. (Picture: Canva)
3 / 92. Tromsø and Svalbard, Norway: Northern Norway, including Tromsø and the far-northern archipelago of Svalbard, sits well above the Arctic Circle, where winter brings months when the sun never rises. In Svalbard, the polar night can stretch for nearly four months, plunging the landscape into prolonged darkness punctuated only by auroras and starlight. These long nights turn the frozen fjords and snow-capped peaks into dramatic backdrops for winter exploration. (Picture: Wikimedia Commons)
4 / 93. Northern Sweden: In the far north of Sweden, towns like Kiruna experience extended seasonal darkness as part of the polar night phenomenon. While the sun remains below the horizon, the sky often offers beautiful twilight hues and frequent northern lights displays. This deep winter contrast creates a serene, snow-lined environment quite unlike anything seen at lower latitudes. (Picture: Canva)
5 / 94. Finnish Lapland: Finland’s Lapland sees parts of winter where daylight is minimal or absent, with the sun failing to rise far above the horizon. In areas near the Arctic Circle, polar night gives way to limited periods of twilight, a subtle, pearlescent light at midday. Travellers often pair these dark months with aurora hunts, husky treks and snow adventures under star-filled skies. (Picture: Canva)
6 / 95. Northern Canada: In northern Canada, especially in the territories of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, communities inside the Arctic Circle endure weeks of continuous darkness during winter. The absence of direct sunlight is broken only by periods of dim twilight, making polar nights both a challenge and an attraction for adventurous tourists. Despite the cold and long nights, local Inuit culture and traditions thrive in these extreme conditions. (Picture: Canva)
7 / 96. Greenland’s polar darkness: Greenland’s high Arctic regions experience a true polar night, with the sun staying below the horizon for long stretches between late November and mid-January. Snow and ice reflect the minimal ambient light, creating haunting blue twilights at midday. The extended darkness also provides excellent conditions for viewing the northern lights. (Picture: Canva)
8 / 97. Antarctica’s long winter night: At the South Pole and across much of Antarctica, the southern hemisphere’s polar night can last for six months, with the sun setting from autumn through spring. Research stations and wildlife habitats weather the prolonged dark before the return of continuous daylight in the summer months. This extreme cycle defines life on the icy continent, where darkness and light govern seasonal rhythms. (Picture: Canva)
9 / 98. Russia’s polar night: In parts of northern Russia, including cities like Murmansk and Norilsk, winter brings a prolonged polar night when the sun stays below the horizon for weeks. Murmansk experiences around 40 days without sunlight, while Norilsk endures even longer periods of darkness. During this time, daily life continues under twilight skies, streetlights and frequent displays of the northern lights. (Picture: Canva)
