Even for seasoned Alaskans, it still has the potential to dazzle: as you read these words, Nome is experiencing the peak of our summer’s midnight sun.
After months and months of increasing sunshine, our daylight hours have just reached their zenith; on June 21st, the summer solstice, the sun rose at 4:19am and set early the following morning at 1:48am, making for 21.5 hours of daylight. Of course, the sky never gets completely dark in between these closely adjacent sunsets and sunrises. In fact, our skies won’t completely go dark again — or allow us to see the stars at night! — until sometime in mid-August.
Rural Alaskans respond to the endless daylight in different ways. While many enjoy the extra flexibility for outdoor activities, even into the wee hours of the night, others use “blackout” curtains (opaque drapes) to afford them a good night’s rest. And the extra light can come in handy, even if it’s just being able to read a book — or a watch, pictured — well after midnight.
For all of us, the extra daylight is just another reminder of what makes Western Alaska — the region your support allows us to serve! — so unique.
