Alaska’s Polar Night in Utqiagvik: 64 Days of No Sunlight and the Twilight That Sustains Life

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Utqiagvik, Alaska plunges into 64 days of total darkness starting November 18, 2024 - what happens when the sun vanishes completely until January 22, 2025?

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While direct sunlight disappears during polar night, residents of America's northernmost town experience 3-6 hours of civil twilight daily as the sun lingers 6 degrees below the horizon.

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Mayor Asisaun Toovak reveals how nearly 5,000 residents navigate life in perpetual darkness, comparing most winter days to "permanent cloudiness."

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A stunning 500 miles northwest of Fairbanks, this Alaskan community fortifies itself against the darkness with vitamin D supplements, light therapy lamps, and robust social networks.

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Scientists from NASA Goddard Space Center explain how Earth's 23.5-degree tilt creates this remarkable phenomenon, splitting Utqiagvik between light and shadow.

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The 2024 polar night offers unprecedented views of the Northern Lights, coinciding with the sun's magnetic cycle peak in October.

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Traditional singers and drummers at Iḷisaġvik College prepare to welcome back the sun - how does Alaska's only tribal college preserve cultural traditions during this phenomenon?

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Behind the darkness lies a thriving first-class city, established in 1958, serving as the administrative hub for the North Slope Borough.

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Over half the population maintains their Alaska Native heritage while adapting to extreme natural cycles that challenge both mental and physical resilience.

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