Polar nights

In the year 21/22, I lived in Lofoten. Mostly because I was curious about what it would be like to live in the middle of paradise with the mountains I love available every single day. It was a dream come true and a very interesting year. But I was, to say the least, quite anxious about the winter since the sun doesn’t rise for 30 days here. This is the opposite of what happens in the summer when the sun doesn’t set for several weeks. I imagined a total blackout for a month and mentally prepared myself for some tough and dark days. But I quickly realized that Lofoten isn’t far enough north for it to be completely dark. The sun rests just below the horizon during daylight hours, so on clear days, there’s a 3-hour sunrise/sunset period that colors the sky pink and purple.

If you go further north it’s a bit different. In Svalbard, for example, the polar nights lasts nearly four months, with over two of these months being completely dark.

When is the dark polar nights?
The duration depends on how far north you are. The further north, the longer the polar night lasts. Some examples:

• Lofoten: December 7 - January 5

• Svalbard: October 26 - February 16

• Tromsø: November 27 - January 15

• Harstad: December 2 - January 10

• Alta: November 25 - January 17

• Nordkapp: November 20 - January 22
  

Even though it may seem strange to have days without sunlight, the polar night is a special and beautiful time of year. The dark landscape is often illuminated by snow, moonlight, stars, and even the northern lights, creating a magical atmosphere. The perfect time to take things more slow and be cozy indoors.