Alaska's 24-Hour Summer Days: The Myths and The Truths

Alaska is the northernmost state in the United States, famous for its super-long days in the summer. It's called the "Midnight Sun." You might have heard some wild stuff about it, but let's check into some myths and get details on the real truth.

Myth #1: 6 Months of Sun, 6 Months of Night for Everyone

Not quite. What's true is that some parts of Alaska get super long days and nights. However, it's not a perfect six-month split across the whole state. The length of these periods changes quite a bit depending on how far north you are.

Think about it this way: the farther north you travel in Alaska, the more extreme the difference between summer and winter daylight becomes.

Far North (like Utqiaġvik (formerly known as Barrow): This is where you see the most significant difference. They have about two whole months in the summer when it doesn't really get dark. In the winter, they have about two months when the sun barely shows up.
Middle Alaska (like Fairbanks): The summer days are still incredibly long, around 21 hours of daylight! But they still have a few hours of twilight during what would typically be nighttime.
South Alaska (like Anchorage): In the southern parts of the state, the summer days are long (around 19 hours), but they also have a more recognizable nighttime period.

Myth #2: The Sun Just Stays Super High in the Sky All Summer

Not really. Actually, the sun doesn't just stay high and bright all the time during summer. While it is still above the horizon for extended periods, it still moves across the sky in a low loop, never dipping far enough for true darkness. This continuous daylight isn't constant midday brightness either; the light level varies, including softer twilight periods similar to dawn or dusk.

Types of Twilight

Even when the sun goes down a little bit below the horizon, it can still light up the sky. There are different levels of twilight, and they depend on just how far the sun has dipped:

Civil Twilight: This is when the sun is just slightly below the horizon. It's still pretty light outside, like right after sunset or just before sunrise. You can usually see well enough to do most outdoor activities.
Nautical Twilight: As the sun sinks a bit further, it enters nautical twilight. It gets noticeably darker, and seeing things in the distance might become harder. Historically, sailors used the stars visible during this time for navigation.
Astronomical Twilight: When the sun is even lower, it's astronomical twilight. The sky is getting quite dark, although there's still a faint light from the sun. This is the time when astronomers can start seeing fainter stars.

In the far northern parts of Alaska, the sun might only go down into civil or nautical twilight during the summer. This means they often don't experience the deep, truly dark astronomical twilight that feels like nighttime in other parts of the world.

Myth #3: All That Sunlight Feels Normal For People and Animals

All that extra light during the summer (and the long, dark winters) can affect the natural sleep and wake cycles of both people and animals. Our bodies have a natural clock strongly influenced by light called the Circadian Rhythm. Too much light in the summer can make it difficult for some people to fall asleep and stay asleep. On the flip side, the long periods of darkness in the winter can contribute to feelings of tiredness or even Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in some individuals. People living in Alaska adapt to these extreme changes in daylight. This might include using blackout curtains during the summer or traveling to areas with more sunlight during the winter.

The Simple Truth

Alaska's super-long summer days are a truly amazing natural phenomenon. While the idea of a perfect six-month day followed by a six-month night is a familiar and captivating story, the reality is more complex and varies across the vast state. It's a fascinating mix of incredibly long days, extended periods of twilight, and places that still experience some form of night. This unique light cycle is just one of the many wonders that make Alaska a special and intriguing place.

Despite all these myths, there's one thing that is still a fact, and that's Alaska Air Forwarding's dedication to Alaska since 1965. With over half a century of experience, we're capable of meeting all of Alaska's shipping needs. Contact us today for a quote!