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
Indian rock pythons are not venomous, but they are protected by law
Indian rock pythons are large snakes, but they are not venomous. The safe approach is to keep your distance and call trained rescue teams rather than trying to handle the snake. The
Hancock County schools ordered a “complete environmental assessment” after snakes, squirrels and raccoons appeared too
A Hancock County School District wildlife inspection in Sparta, Georgia, started with snakes and ended with squirrels and raccoons. The district closed all schools and offices for the rest of its first
Virginia backyard pond: a $160 hand-dug build drew toads within weeks, and it carries a $100-a-year catch
A Virginia backyard pond wildlife habitat does not need a contractor or a big lot. In the fall of 2017, 14-year-old Maggie started digging a roughly 12-foot circular pond by hand in
Exploding Trees: Why Cold Snaps Cause That Loud Gunshot Boom — and the Real Winter Risk
That loud crack in winter isn't your imagination — it's frost cracking. Trees don't throw shrapnel, but ice-laden limbs can fall. Here's what puts your yard at risk.
California Wildlife Bridge Opens December 2 Over 10-Lane 101 Freeway — World’s Largest Urban Crossing
The $114M Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing opens December 2 in Agoura Hills — 6,000 native plants, world's largest urban wildlife crossing.
Minnesota Deer Harvest Could Top 200,000 This Season
If you are heading into the Minnesota deer woods this November, the early numbers are promising. The state’s top deer manager says the harvest could surpass 200,000 animals for the first time
Minnesota Deer Season 2026: New Rifle Rules, Mandatory CWD Zones & 200K Harvest Outlook
Heading out for Minnesota's Nov. 7, 2026 firearms deer opener? Review the eliminated shotgun zone rules, mandatory southwest CWD testing, and bag limits.
Australia’s 2026 Humpback Season Has Gone Wrong: Low Sightings, Strandings, and a Cultural Clash Over Carcasses
Australia’s annual humpback whale migration is one of the most consistent seasonal spectacles on the east and west coasts. This year it has been erratic in ways that are worrying researchers and
Halloween Fake Spider Webs Can Snag Wildlife: Safer Outdoor Decoration Ideas
Fine synthetic Halloween web can entangle small wildlife and become plastic litter. Use these safer decoration choices and know what to do if an animal is caught.
What India’s Dholes and Sloth Bears Teach Us About Coexistence
Valparai’s dhole traditions and Hampi’s sloth-bear knowledge show how cultural memory can support wildlife coexistence—alongside science, rights and safety.
Tamarillo, the Tree Tomato: What This Andean Nightshade Plant Really Is
Tamarillo, or tree tomato, is an Andean nightshade with tangy fruit and a bitter skin. Here is what Solanum betaceum is, how it grows and how to use it.
Woman Tries To Pet Great White Shark Off Georgia Coast And The Shark Lunges
Woman Tries to Pet Great White Shark Off Tybee Island, Georgia, and the Shark Lunges Thinking about reaching over the side of a boat to touch a shark? A video from off
New Mauritian Spider Lives In Coral Burrows That Flood At High Tide
New Mauritian Tidal Trapdoor Spider (*Idioctis marevallum*) Lives in Coral Burrows Submerged at High Tide How does a land spider survive the sea? A newly described species from Mauritius lives in burrows
Mystery Bald Eagle Spends 30 Minutes Rearranging Shadow’s Big Bear Nest
Mystery Bald Eagle Rearranges Sticks in Shadow’s Big Bear Nest Months After Jackie’s Death Jackie and Shadow‘s Big Bear nest has a new mystery visitor. An unidentified adult bald eagle spent about
Marshall BioResources Animal Testing Claims Disputed
Marshall BioResources faces protest allegations over animal testing in North Rose, NY. The company disputes the claims; federal law targets threats, not peaceful protest.
