Come summertime, there really will be places where the sun never sets. The summer solstice brings a natural phenomenon known as the midnight sun to the Arctic Circle, bathing parts of Canada, Iceland, Alaska, Greenland, Norway and Russia in sunlight all night long.
Want to soak up the midnight sun for yourself this summer? Check out these four spots where the sun will shine all night long.
Yukon, Canada
Come June 21, the Yukon territory comes to life as the sun shines for nearly a full 24 hours, with extended sunlight hours continuing into the summer. The perks of the extra sunlight? The wildflowers bloom, millions of migratory birds come seeking warmth and you’ll have extra hours to enjoy all of the Yukon’s top outdoor activities — including mountain biking, hiking and kayaking — anytime of day or night.
Fairbanks, Alaska
This Alaska town celebrates the midnight sun with full fanfare, taking advantage of the extra daylight hours with plenty of late-night activities surrounding the summer solstice. A Midnight Sun Run kicks off at 10 p.m., but thanks to late-night sunshine, there’s no need for flashlights or street lamps to navigate this middle-of-the-night 10K. Around the solstice, the streets of Fairbanks also erupt into the annual Midnight Sun Festival, always held late into the night.
Northern Norway
There’s plenty to do in Northern Norway under the midnight sun. Head to the North Cape for dramatic views, or sneak in a round of midnight golf or a brilliantly illuminated night hike at the Lofoten Islands. A Midnight Sun Marathon is also held in Tromsø on the summer solstice, if the additional vitamin D has you feeling extra energetic.
Ilulissat, Greenland
As one of the world’s largest and most mesmerizing glaciers outside Antarctica, the Ilulissat Icefjord is a stunning sight in and of itself. And it only gets better under the twilight twinkle of the midnight sun. Guided tours take you on sailboat cruises and hikes to take in these stunning icebergs under the midnight sun, and thanks to the added summer warmth, you’ll also be able to take advantage of prime whale-watching opportunities while in Ilulissat during the summer months.
(Main image: Joakim Aleksander Mathisen)
