Why doesn't the sun set for 73 days in Finland? Does it never get dark during those days?

Question

Isnt that weird. Why does this happen? And during the winter is it dark during those day that the sun does not rise? Freaky!!

Answer 1

If you inspect a globe, you will see some dashed circles. The northern-most and southern-most of these circles are the Arctic and Antarctic circles. Everything north of the Arctic circle, and everything south of the Antarctic circle has a 6-month period of day, followed by a 6-month period of night. When the Arctic circle is in perpetual daylight, the Antarctic circle is in perpetual night.

The reason for this is that the Earth's axis of rotation (the line from the north pole to the south pole) is not aligned precisely with the Earth's orbit around the Sun. Instead, the Earth is tilted by about 23 degrees. So, when the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, the Arctic circle gets 6 months of daylight. Half a year later, the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, and the Arctic circle gets 6 months of night.

Answer 2

It's because the Earth is tilted 23.5 degrees.

In summer, the Northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, and the Southern hemisphere faces away from the sun.

In winter, it's just the opposite.

You ever notice that on the first day of summer, the day is long?? It's for the same reason, during summer, the northern hemisphere gets more sunlight because of the Earth's tilt.

Answer 3

It is because it is so close to the top of the world that the tilt of the Earth never fully obscures the sun. That is why Alaska is called the land of the midnight sun. I was there in the winter and the sun never came out. That was depressing.