The sun has officially set for the last time this year in Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), marking the beginning of the annual 65-day Polar Night in the northernmost city of the United States.
Residents witnessed their final sunset of 2025 earlier today. The sun will not rise again until January 23, 2026, when daylight finally returns to the Arctic community.
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Located above the Arctic Circle, Utqiaġvik experiences an extreme winter phenomenon: the Earth’s tilt prevents sunlight from reaching the horizon for more than two months. While the city remains in continuous darkness, a faint blue twilight, known as civil twilight, may still appear for a short part of the day.
Despite sounding unusual, the Polar Night is a natural and expected part of life for Arctic communities. During this period, the town enters a long stretch of calm, quiet, and cold, creating an atmosphere that many describe as mysterious and awe-inspiring.
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The scenes of dim-blue landscapes, snow-covered homes, and frozen sea ice reflect the raw beauty of the Arctic winter, a reminder of nature’s rhythm and the resilience of those who call the region home.
