The midnight sun

It’s tempting to wonder about all the sights and experiences that have been made under the midnight sun through the ages – by people living off the sea in the Lofoten and Vesterålen archipelagos, or the Sami reindeer herders of the far north.

The phenomena has at least made a lasting impression on several Norwegian artists and writers. This excerpt is from Knut Hamsuns Pan (1894): “Night was coming on again; the sun just dipped into the sea and rose again, red, refreshed, as if it had been down to drink. I could feel more strangely on those nights than anyone would believe …”

Lofoten.
Photo: Jørn Allan Pedersen / Visitnorway.com

Travel to the areas above the Arctic Circle in Norway and live these moments yourself: Doing a whale safari or exploring the wilderness inland takes on a new dimension at night in the summer months, when you literally get to see the nature and wildlife in a different light.

If you’re not afraid of the sometimes chilly summer nights in the north, you could try a midnight swim – or pitch your tent in the wild and stay up with the sun. Many sights and activities are open at night during these weeks, so you can go midnight golfing, cycling, river paddling, or sea kayaking – or maybe just find a quiet spot to fish.

If you travel to the Arctic islands of Svalbard, the sun doesn’t set between April and late August. Here, you can do a midnight walk on a glacier or look at the reddish sky from a moving dogsled, experiencing the unique climate and nature near the North Pole.

What is the midnight sun?

The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs during summer in places south of the Antarctic Circle and north of the Arctic Circle – including Northern Norway.

The earth is rotating at a tilted axis relative to the sun, and during the summer months the North Pole is angled towards our star. That’s why, for several weeks, the sun never sets above the Arctic Circle.

Svalbard is the place in Norway where the midnight sun occurs for the longest period. Here, the sun never sets from 20 April to 22 August.

Kayaking in Lofoten.
Photo: Kristin Folsland Olsen / www.nordnorge.com/Vestvågøy

A summer night in Bodø.
Photo: Tommy Andreassen / www.nordnorge.com/Bodø

Midnight sun at The North Cape.
Photo: Bjarne Riesto / Visitnorway.com

Midnight sun in Tromsø.
Photo: Knut Hansvold / www.nordnorge.com / Tromsø

Where to find the midnight sun

76 days of midnight sun between May and July greets travellers to Northern Norway. The further north you go, the more nights of midnight sun you get.

During the summer months you can experience up to 24 hours of sunlight above the Arctic Circle, giving you more time to enjoy the sights and make new discoveries. When planning your midnight sun adventure, think of Northern Norway as divided into five main areas as you travel north:

Dynamic Variation:

Area 3: Progressing further north you will reach Lofoten; an area of outstanding natural beauty characterized by rocky peaks and coastal flatlands where sheep graze on seaweed infused soil. The Vesterålen islands are an ideal place from which to experience the midnight sun, as the landscape is very varied and dramatic.

Dynamic Variation:

Area 5: You are now entering Finnmark county. This area is contrasted with fjords and glaciers in the far southwest, and big islands such as Sørøya and Seiland on the northwestern coasts. Midnight sun chasers best advised to head for the dramatic North Cape.

APPROXIMATE DATES WHEN YOU CAN SEE THE MIDNIGHT SUN

Where	When
The Arctic Circle	12 June–1 July
Bodø	4 June–8 July
Svolvær	28 May–14 July
Harstad	25 May–18 July
Bardufoss	23 May–19 July
Andendes	22 May–21 July
Tromsø	20 May–22 July
Bossekopp	19 May–24 July
Vardø	17 May–26 July
Hammerfest	16 May–27 July
Berlevåg	15 May–28 July
The North Cape	14 May–29 July
Longyearbyen	20 April–22 August

3 tips for photographing the phenomenon

Dynamic Variation:

Tip 2: Foreground images can be used to frame subjects in mid and deep field, creating a better sense of three-dimensionality.

Tip 3: To maximize the impact of the light sky on a landscape, compose your picture in the viewfinder by keeping the horizon a third of a way from the bottom; this will help your camera to expose properly.

APPROXIMATE DATES WHEN YOU CAN SEE THE MIDNIGHT SUN

Where	When
The Arctic Circle	12 June–1 July
Bodø	4 June–8 July
Svolvær	28 May–14 July
Harstad	25 May–18 July
Bardufoss	23 May–19 July
Andendes	22 May–21 July
Tromsø	20 May–22 July
Bossekopp	19 May–24 July
Vardø	17 May–26 July
Hammerfest	16 May–27 July
Berlevåg	15 May–28 July
The North Cape	14 May–29 July
Longyearbyen	20 April–22 August

What is the midnight sun?

The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs during summer in places south of the Antarctic Circle and north of the Arctic Circle – including Northern Norway.

Svalbard is the place in Norway where the midnight sun occurs for the longest period. Here, the sun never sets from 20 April to 22 August.