Karmactive TeamOn Monday, the small Alaskan community of Utqiaġvik, located 320 miles north of the Arctic circle, finally saw the sun again after 65 days of darkness. Despite the brief glimpse, with the sun rising at 1:03 p.m. and setting at 2:15 p.m., the residents of Utqiaġvik were overjoyed to see the sun again after the last one was seen on November 18, 2022.
Photographer Mark Mahaney traveled to the northernmost town in the U.S. to document the first sunrise of the year and to hear from the residents, police and Iñupiat Alaskan Natives about what it’s like to live in the dark. He described the town during the winter as an “energetically heavy place.”
“It was a very intense place to be during that time of year in the town. The crime spikes, different abuse goes up,” said Mahaney. “The local police department gets random calls from citizens saying that they feel disoriented, that they don’t know what time of day it is, or they don’t know the day of the week it is.”
As the days progress, the residents of Utqiaġvik will have the opportunity to experience an increasing amount of sunlight. In the coming days, the town will see an additional 25 minutes of sun each day. By the time February rolls around, residents can expect to see an extra 10 minutes of daylight each day. As we move into mid-March, the town will be bathed in sunlight for 12 hours a day. Even on March 23rd, when the sun dips below the horizon, the town will remain in a state of twilight throughout the entire night.
The residents of Utqiagvik, also known as Barrow, will have to wait until April 23rd for complete darkness again. However, starting May 12th, 2023 the town will be bathed in the light of the midnight sun, with the sun remaining visible until August 2nd. Despite the sun being below the horizon during winter, the low angle of the sun ensures that the town is enveloped in a perpetual state of twilight.
Utqiaġvik Residents Welcome the Sun After 65 Days of Darkness
Latest from Nature
California Ground Squirrels Hunt Voles: 42% of Interactions Show Carnivorous Behavior
In a discovery that challenges decades of wildlife research, California ground squirrels have been observed hunting and consuming voles, marking the first documented evidence of widespread carnivorous behavior in this species. The
Invasive ‘Murder Hornets’ Eradicated in U.S. After 5-Year Battle
The northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) has been eradicated from the United States, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Wednesday. This elimination comes
UBC Study: Up to 40% Mortality in Released Salmon—Hook Size and Handling Are Key Factors
The comprehensive UBC study provides insights into salmon survival rates after catch-and-release fishing – a practice that has become increasingly prevalent as salmon populations decline. The six-year investigation by UBC’s Pacific Salmon
California’s $2.4B Delta Water Plan Faces Environmental Scrutiny
A moment defined as a watershed moment for California’s water management came, as the Newsom administration has proposed new rules for drawing water from the Central Valley’s Delta. The proposal is backed
Critically Endangered Sumatran Elephant Dies in Bali Zoo River Accident
A female Sumatran elephant died in a river accident at Bali Zoo on December 16, 2024. Molly, aged 45, was swept away by strong currents during her daily routine walk. The incident
Polynesian Storm-Petrels Return to Kamaka Island After 100+ Years of Extinction
Polynesian storm petrels (Nesofregetta fuliginosa) have returned to Kamaka Island in French Polynesia, marking their first appearance in over 100+ years. This rare seabird species, with only 250-1,000 individuals remaining worldwide, was
New Sensors Detect Plant Dehydration 48 Hours Before Visible Signs, Alerting Farmers Early
In an era where agricultural challenges mount under climate pressures, researchers from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) and the Disruptive and Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) interdisciplinary research
Suckley’s Cuckoo Bumble Bee Faces 90% Decline and Endangered Status Proposal Across 16 U.S. States
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has proposed listing the Suckley’s cuckoo bumble bee as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, opening a public comment period from December 17, 2024, to
Mount Graham Red Squirrel Population Climbs to 233, Up from 144 in 2023 and Recovering After 2017 Fire Impact
In a turn of events that has caught wildlife biologists by surprise, the Mount Graham red squirrel population has increased to 233 individuals, up from 144 in 2023. This rare subspecies, found
Shark And Ray Populations Plunge 50% Since 1970: Is Overfishing Pushing Marine Ecosystems to Collapse?
The marine ecosystem faces an unprecedented crisis as shark and ray populations have plummeted by more than half over the past five decades, according to a global study published in Science. The
Lake District Tourism Faces Climate Challenges, Conservation Struggles, and UNESCO Heritage Threats
The Lake District, England’s celebrated UNESCO World Heritage Site, contributes millions of dollars to the local economy through tourism. This natural heritage site requires careful management to preserve its distinctive character. At
74-Year-Old Laysan Albatross Wisdom Lays Egg at Midway Atoll: A Scientific Milestone
On November 26, 2024, Wisdom, a female Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) laid an egg at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. At approximately 74 years old, this event marks her first breeding attempt
Monarch Butterfly Decline: USFWS Proposes Protection Amid 95% Drop, 99% Extinction Risk by 2080
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposes listing the monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, following decades of failed voluntary conservation efforts. The December 12, 2024 proposal comes
Rare Cockatoo-Galah Hybrid Stuns NSW Birdwatchers With Apricot Plumage And Mysterious Genetics
An exceptionally rare hybrid bird spotted in Northern NSW East of the range has caused quite a stir among Australian bird enthusiasts, with its striking apricot-colored plumage and unusual lineage. The bird,
Butterflies in Flight: Canadian Museum Hosts 18,000 Species, Including 10% of Global Population in Ottawa
Yo Ottawa, need a tropical escape from winter wonderland? The Lepidoptera squad (that’s butterfly-speak for these gorgeous scaled-wing insects) has officially moved into the Canadian Museum of Nature’s solarium from December 6,
