midnattsol

Midnattsol, Norwegian for midnight sun, refers to the astronomical phenomenon in which the Sun remains visible at local midnight during the summer months in polar regions. It occurs in the Arctic and Antarctic circles when latitudes are high enough for the Sun not to dip below the horizon for a 24-hour period around the summer solstice. The effect is caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis, about 23.4 degrees, which allows the Sun's apparent path to stay above the horizon for an extended time at high latitudes.

The duration of the midnight sun increases with latitude. It can last from a short interval near the Arctic Circle to several weeks or months at higher latitudes, and up to continuous daylight for months near the poles. The phenomenon is most commonly associated with regions inside the Arctic Circle, but it also occurs in the Antarctic during their summer season.

Geographically, midnattsol is experienced in areas such as parts of northern Norway (including Svalbard), northern Sweden and Finland, Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, and northern Russia. It also characterizes the Antarctic region during its respective summer. In addition to its astronomical significance, the period of continuous daylight influences local life, tourism, and cultural practices, with many communities adapting schedules to the extended daylight.

Midnattsol is also the name of a German-Norwegian symphonic metal band formed in 2002 by Carmen Elise Espenæs. Their debut album, Where Twilight Deepens, was released in 2003, followed by Nordlys in 2004, among other works. The band blends folk influences with metal and has contributed to the genre's Nordic subscene.