The land of the midnight sun is the popular name of the Scandinavian country of Norway, where from mid-May till the end of July, the sun doesn’t set completely. As a result, there is a long twilight, instead of night during this period. On its northernmost tip, the sun never sets completely for about two months in the summer, but at the same time there is no sun for two months in the winter.
The midnight sun is seen in the Polar Regions when the sun appears above the horizon at midnight. Due to the tilt of the earth’s axis to the plane of its orbit by 23.5 degrees, each hemisphere is inclined towards the sun during the summer and away from it during winter. Due to this, the Arctic and Antarctic regions see the midnight sun for some time each year. When there is winter in the Antarctic region, day is indistinguishable from night. The sun does not rise and there is total darkness in the Antarctic Circle.
At this time (April to July) the Arctic Circle enjoys summer with the sun visible for 24 hours a day. The sun rises in the sky and moves very slowly. Towards evening, it begins to set, until it reaches the horizon. Then it begins to climb again. At the Arctic Circle, this continues for about two months, but the actual midnight occurs on June 21.
After six months, the Arctic region plunges into darkness and the Antarctic Circle is bathed in sunlight. Midnight Sun occurs in Antarctic from mid-November to the end of January.
Extreme northern latitudes are sometimes called the ‘Lands of the Midnight Sun’. The Midnight Sun can also be seen near Bylot, an island of northern Canada. Every year thousands of tourists flock here to see one of the most impressive and extraordinary sights — the midnight sun.