Utqiagvik, formerly known as Barrow, is home to nearly 5,000 residents. Located along Alaska’s North Slope on the Arctic Ocean, it sits at 71.17 degrees North latitude, approximately 330 miles north of the Arctic Circle. This geographical position results in about two months of continuous darkness each year.
During this period, the sky may display shades of azure or violet during astronomical and civil twilight, but daylight will not progress beyond dusk. The harsh climate of Utqiagvik is exacerbated by the darkness, with temperatures often remaining below zero degrees. The town experiences freezing temperatures only 37 percent of the time, and the stratospheric polar vortex, a whirlpool of cold air over the North Pole, influences the weather across the northern hemisphere.
On the winter solstice, December 21, the sun will still be 4.7 degrees below the horizon at noon. Due to Earth’s axial tilt, regions within the Arctic Circle can face away from the sun for extended periods between the fall and spring equinoxes. This effect intensifies closer to the poles, where there is only one sunrise and one sunset per year.
Despite the prolonged darkness, Utqiagvik receives the same annual sunlight duration as other locations on Earth, such as Miami, Sydney, and Moscow. The difference lies in the angle and intensity of the sunlight. High latitude locations like Utqiagvik receive sunlight from a low angle, spreading the same amount of light over a larger area, resulting in less heating.
Utqiagvik compensates for its winter darkness with continuous daylight during the summer months. From May 11 to August 19, 2025, the town will experience the “land of the midnight sun,” with 24 hours of daylight each day.
