Arctic Darkness Descends: Utqiagvik Faces 65 Days of Polar Night

The sun has set on Utqiagvik, Alaska, initiating a 65-day stretch of polar night. For the United States’ northernmost city, the last glimpse of daylight on November 18, 2025, occurred at 1:36 PM. Residents will not witness a sunrise again until January 22, 2026. This annual event is a direct consequence of the Earth’s tilt, which positions the North Pole away from the sun during winter. Utqiagvik, situated well within the Arctic Circle, experiences this period where the sun remains perpetually below the horizon. The Earth’s axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees, explaining why Arctic latitudes receive no direct sunlight for weeks at a time. In stark contrast, the summer months bring the ‘polar day,’ granting Utqiagvik approximately 80 to 85 days of continuous sunlight. The timing of daylight saving this year made the onset of darkness even more pronounced. Life in Utqiagvik, a community of around 4,500 predominantly Inuit residents, adapts to the prolonged darkness. The lack of sunlight can affect mental health, contributing to fatigue and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), with light therapy being a common coping mechanism. Nevertheless, the town’s routines continue. Educational institutions and workplaces remain active, with artificial lighting illuminating daily activities. Outdoor temperatures frequently drop to frigid levels, between -20 and -30 degrees Celsius, encouraging residents to spend more time indoors. The polar night is not without its unique charms. It is a time for community gatherings and holiday celebrations, including Christmas and New Year’s. The dark, clear skies also become a stage for the breathtaking Aurora Borealis, drawing visitors to marvel at the northern lights, despite the challenges posed by the extreme cold. Utqiagvik, renamed from Barrow in 2016, is also vital for scientific research, particularly concerning climate change and its effects on Arctic ice. While climate change may influence these natural cycles in the future, the polar night continues its predictable course for now.