An Alaskan town saw the last sunset of 2020; the sun will rise next in January 2021

A town in Alaska saw the sun for the final time on November 20, 2020, at 1:30 pm. The sun is expected to rise next on January 22, 2021. We can’t even begin to imagine what that must feel like. The Alaskan town of Utqiaġvik thus entered a 66-day period of complete darkness. The city of Utqiaġvik in the American state of Alaska is located north of the Arctic Circle. Utqiaġvik is the northernmost town in the United States of America.
The phenomenon known as polar night is something that this tiny place experiences each year. The reason why Utqiaġvik does not receive any sunlight for 66 days is because the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun during autumn, and winter months. So Utqiaġvik being north of the Arctic Circle, much like other places in this area does not see the light of day. It is a long dark night that starts every November, and goes on until January. Well, the truth of the matter is that it is not as dramatic as it sounds. As in, it is not completely pitch dark.


Another phenomenon kicks in during this time, which is known as civic twilight. While the sun remains below the horizon, there begins a period of civic twilight, which is like the period after sunset, or before sunrise. Much like dawn, or dusk. The sun is at 6 degrees below the horizon, and this allows light to fall on this town. However, it is not like your regular daylight, but just a hint of it.
Utqiaġvik is home to Alaskan natives, the Iñupiat. Like other Arctic peoples, the Iñupiat too are hunter gatherers.