The midnight sun is so freaky and wild that you’ve just gotta see it
The Northwest Territories is the Land of the Midnight Sun, where summer daylight is everlasting. Two a.m. looks pretty much like high noon. All night, birds chirp, kids play, fishermen fish and golfers golf. Campers get their days all turned around, eating lunch at midnight and crawling into their sleeping bags in the morning – because really, when each day is blissfully infinite, you just do whatever feels right. Here’s why the midnight sun is so wonderfully, wildly weird:
1. Summer days are deliriously endless
In Aulavik National Park, way up on Banks Island, paddlers on the Thomsen River enjoy a “day” that lasts 2,500 hours. Up there, the sun rises for the summer on April 30 and won’t set again until August 13, three-and-a-half months later. Even in more southerly communities such as Fort Simpson there is no true darkness from May to July.
2. The sun does loop-de-loops in the sky
Though our summer sun never goes down, it’s not like it stands still in the sky. Instead, it rolls around the heavens in an oblique loop, reaching its zenith at midday and grazing the horizon at midnight, over and over and over. It’s seriously mind-blowing to behold.
3. You might sunburn the inside of your nostrils
Bring your sunscreen. Because of our low-angle sun, you’re more likely to get a burn when you’re standing up than if you’re stretched out flat on a beach. And watch out for UV reflecting off our clear, pure water. Plenty of hapless travellers have lathered their foreheads with SPF 50 only to end up with a wicked burn on the underside of their nose.
4. For shutterbugs, every moment is the 'golden hour'
Photographers go crazy for the midnight sun because it provides the magical dusk-and-dawn light that gives pictures a radiant glow. In the Northwest Territories, the coveted “photographic golden hour” lasts for months on end.
5. For some people, sleeping can be tough
If you’ll be camping up here, you might want to bring a sleep-mask. Why? Daylight stimulates the photoreceptive ganglia of your eyes, which tells your pineal gland to stop making melatonin. Melatonin is what makes you feel drowsy and lowers your body temperature in preparation for sleep. Without it – hello, insomnia. (Luckily, Northwest Territories hotel rooms are usually equipped with “blackout blinds” to keep the 2 a.m. sunbeams from blazing into your room.)
6. But for animals, sleeplessness is no problem
Some animals in the Northwest Territories are specially adapted to endless daylight. Caribou have a set of genes that spare them from needing to sleep on a regular 24-hour cycle. Instead, they stay active throughout the bright Arctic summer, napping only sporadically.
7. At the Arctic Circle you can watch the sun not set
The Northwest Territories is bisected by the Arctic Circle. That’s the imaginary line where, on June 21 – the summer solstice – the sun doesn’t drop below the horizon. The farther north you go from the Arctic Circle, the longer the sun stays up. At the northernmost point on Earth, the North Pole, the sun is up for six months straight.
8. You can get there on Canada's northernmost highway
There’s two easy ways to reach the Arctic Circle. You could drive the incredible Dempster Highway, the only road in Canada that crosses the circle …
9. Or on one of our glorious lakes and rivers
… or you could reach the Arctic Circle on one of our many lakes and rivers that straddle the line, such as Great Bear Lake. Imagine, fishing at midnight!
10. You can celebrate in the sunshine on National Indigenous Peoples Day
If you come North for just one day, choose the summer solstice, June 21, when endless fun keeps you active throughout the bright night. All across the Northwest Territories, National Indigenous Peoples Day festivities fill local parks with Indigenous food, music and dance, often late into the wee hours …
11. Or by running or golfing
On June 21 in Yellowknife, the Canadian North Midnight Golf Classic sees duffers and celebs tee off when they would normally be going to bed. And in Inuvik, it’s the same with joggers at the Summer Solstice Midnight Fun Run.
12. The midnight sun gave people some kooky ideas
Up until the 1880s, Arctic navigators sought “the open polar sea,” where they reasoned that the midnight sun must keep the ocean free of ice. It took several frostbitten tragedies before their dreams of a bright polar utopia gave way to the cold hard facts.
13. The light makes flowers grow like gangbusters
Given the proper environment, the midnight sun is like rocket fuel for Northern plants. In the huge community greenhouse up in Inuvik, sunflowers grow to a height of 14 feet. Even in the High Arctic islands, the tundra erupts with a profusion of vivid flowers.
14. And it sends temperatures through the roof
Temperatures, too, shoot up in the unrelenting light. Our all-time high temperature happened in Fort Smith on July 18, 1941, when the mercury blazed at 39.4°C (103°F) – hotter than the all-time high in Hawaii. When those sorts of conditions kick in, there’s only one solution: Head out to the water to cool down.
If that’s not enough, here are some other wonderfully, wildly weird facts about the midnight sun, by the numbers:
87: Days in a row that the sun doesn’t set in Sachs Harbour, our northernmost town.
1: Day the sun doesn’t set in Fort Good Hope, at the cusp of the Arctic Circle.
22:26: Hours and minutes of light at the 60th Parallel on Summer Solstice.
2: Genes in caribou that spare them from needing to sleep on a regular 24-hour cycle. Instead, they stay active throughout the bright Arctic summer, napping only sporadically.
9: Hours that bees rest every day, even when exposed to the midnight sun, meaning their internal clock keeps on tickin’.
14’2”: Height, in feet and inches, of the tallest sunflower in the greenhouse in Inuvik, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle.
480: Kilometres that Cool Robot, a solar-powered rover designed for the polar regions, can cover in a week during the Arctic summer.
0: Kilometres it can cover in the Arctic winter – which is why it gets sent to Antarctica.
Intriguing tales from Canada's Northwest Territories
Member
Red Cliff Adventures has a traditional camp that is located in Lutsel K’e, on the shores of the East Arm,......
Member
Spectacular river journeys on Canada’s most iconic rivers. Travel with expert guides by raft or canoe and immerse yourself in......
Member
What began as a “part time fishing lodge” has now become a “full time Aurora Wilderness Lodge” open year round......
Member
Book an adventure with us at Trail Blazer Tours for an unforgettable experience! Your adventure with us will create lasting......
Member
For over 30 years, Canoe North Adventures has made it our mission to create spectacular memories for life, and to show......
Member
Your Dene Connection in Yellowknife. B. Dene Adventures is a Traditional Dene Culture Camp business which teaches the Dene way......
Member
We are the Łı́ı́dlı̨́ı̨́ Kų́ę́ got’ine. People of the community of Łı́ı́dlı̨́ı̨́ Kų́ę́, “the place where rivers come together”, in......
Member
Tundra North Travel is an Inuit company based in Inuvik, Northwest Territories that was established with the dream of being......
Member
Enodah Wilderness Travel / Trout Rock Lodge/ Enodah Kennel offer high-quality Aurora viewing experiences by night and dogsled tours by......
Member
With over 30 years of living in Yellowknife, we offer a variety of tourism experiences for our guests. We are......
Member
Arctic Adventure & Wildlife viewing on the edge of the tree line of Canada’s Northwest Territories. Lynx Lake 400 km......
Member
Commercial air charter service providing air support for hikers on Canol Road, sightseeing in the beautiful Mackenzie Mountains, and fly-in fishing......
Member
Creating Memories for a Lifetime Nonacho Lake Fishing Adventures offers trophy lake trout and northern pike fishing. Wildlife abounds at......
Member
Best Northern Road Trip! Now you can drive all the way to the Arctic ocean linking Canada from coast to......
Member
Agritourism is where agriculture and tourism meet to provide you with an amazing educational experience, whether it be a tour......
Member
Destination NWT Limited is a tourism operator located in Yellowknife, Canada. DNWT specializes in outdoors adventures, aurora photography, and cultural experiences: Best rated Snowmobile Tour, winter gears included, exciting trail riding Aurora Tour in a Luxurious lakeside Lodge Unique Aurora tour while Ice Fishing indoors Full panoramic moonroof vehicle for Aurora Viewing DNWT’s tours allow […]...
Member
DISCOVER A MOMENT THAT LASTS A LIFETIME. Aylmer Lake Lodge is located in Rocknest Bay, which is on the Barren......
Member
Simpson Air (and its predecessor) is the oldest continuously-operated flying service in the Mackenzie Valley, established in the early 1960s.......
Member
Canoe North, located in Hay River, Northwest Territories offers kayak and canoe rentals and sales. We can set you up for a......
Member
For a Great Northern Experience! Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures offers a variety of day trips ranging from 2 to 10 hours......
Member
Comfortable lodge a 20 minute by floatplane ride from Yellowknife. Guided fishing for Lake Trout (to 34 lb), Arctic Grayling (to......
Member
With Bluefish Outfitting you’ll get an unforgettable trip of a lifetime. Bluefish Outfitting offers personalized, guided fishing trips and boat tours on......
Member
Join us for an unforgettable experience on the mighty Mackenzie River. Day trips are available for a full or half......
Member
We are an Inuvialuit owned and operated family business, run by locals Enoch and Amanda Pokiak, based in Inuvik in the Western......
Member
100% Indigenous owned! We are the world’s first Aurora Hunting tour company, we know Aurora. Learn about Aurora, why Yellowknife is the......
Member
Charter the bus, travel the North by road Your go-to solution for reliable and convenient ground transportation in the North! Shuttle Services Group Travel Sporting Events Corporate Events Out-of-Territory Trips School Trips Luggage Customized Itineraries Budget Friendly Rates and so much more! ...
Member
If are looking for a spectacular weekend retreat nestled in the serenity of the Mackenzie Mountains at Ten Stone Mountain Lodge. North-Wright......
Member
Yellowknife Sportfishing Adventures is a professional fishing charter company with a professional NWT fishing guide looking to help you catch......
Member
Remote private wilderness paradise on Little Doctor Lake, 100 km west of Fort Simpson. Accommodates 20 in cabins. Fishing, swimming,......
Member
Great Slave Lake Tours offers winter and summer trips on Great Slave Lake, the ninth biggest lake in the world......
Member
Come experience world-class Aurora Borealis viewing in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are the only guides in the Northwest Territories......
Member
Sundog Adventures is a year-round experiential tour company based in Yellowknife’s Old Town. During the winter we offer kicksled tours......
Member
“Like No Other Place On Earth” We are the only fly-in lodge located a 50 minute float plane flight from......
Member
Unplug from the commonplace with our Northwest Territories canoe and kayak expeditions. We specialize in true wilderness adventures to the......
Member
Dancing Skies is a new tour operator in Yellowknife, led by an experienced northern lights chaser and photographer with a passion for contemplation. Specializing in private tours and small groups of up to 5 people, we prioritize silent, serene observation and photography of the aurora, far from the crowds. With expertise in Space Weather data, […]...
Member
World Class Fishing Within Reach Yet Beyond Belief For 3 generations we have been honing the Kasba experience to be like no-other. Our level of hospitality, dedication to the fishery, and a legendary passion for the experience that permeates through our entire team is undeniably contagious. No matter what you’re looking for in your fishing […]...
Member
Arctic Tours Canada is a Yellowknife based tour operating company that offer Aurora Hunting and Viewing tours, Yellowknife sightseeing tours,......
Member
We operate a fully equipped luxury coach and offer City Tours, Aurora Tours and tours to the Nahanni National Park Reserve......
Member
We offer tours such as aurora viewing, dog sledding, snowmobile rides, ice fishing and more. Come experience a once in......
Member
Extend your trip to Fort Simpson with a visit to our Dene Camp, K’iyeli. We have options available for an......
Member
For over 50 years, Black Feather has had the opportunity to operate canoe, hiking and sea kayaking expeditions throughout the......
Member
Tukto Lodge has been exceeding anglers’ expectations for more than fifty years. As the only fishing and eco-tourism lodge in......
Member
Northern and Remote Wilderness Adventures Ltd. (NARWAL) is a small, friendly, majority Aboriginal owned and operated family business. Our reputation......
Member
Come shop and experience the true beauty of Canadian diamonds. We feature and sell a variety of loose diamonds, mined, cut, and polished all here in the Northwest Territories. ...
Member
“Unforgettable remote fishing experience” We are the only lodge located on this fly-in only lake. With only 8 guests per......
Member
Yellow Dog Lodge is a comfortable lodge with 3 private cabins for our guests. The lodge is a short (15 minute) floatplane ride from Yellowknife. Located on Duncan and Graham Lakes, the lodge is your hub for adventure. Choose from an additional 5 lakes for guided day trip excursions. Each lake is unique and offers unspoiled first class fishing. We are the only lodge that operates guided trips on each of these remote lakes located in the NWT taiga wilderness. Packaged trips feature superb sport fishing and safe outdoor adventure. The lakes and streams offer the finest Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye and Arctic Grayling in the region. As an added bonus, our guests will enjoy the midnight sun and may even catch the northern lights later in the fall or early spring....
Member
Gana River Outfitters is a family owned and operated outfitting business offering remote wilderness hunts in the beautiful Mackenzie Mountains......
Member
2 Seasons Adventures is a family-owned company. Our professional guides boast a lifetime of experience enjoying the unique lifestyle of......
Member
Outfitting to all of us is a way of life, one that we cherish because we love to hunt, love the......
Member
Peterson’s Point Lake Lodge provides you access to known waters teeming with monster lake trout. Their current record is a......
Member
Aurora Village – A Class of Its Own Aurora Village is a unique Aurora-viewing facility situated 25 minutes from downtown......
Create your own story. We offer a variety of services to make your Sahtu adventure a reality! We offer everything from......
Book this entire cabin in the remote wilderness of the stunningly breath-taking, Mackenzie Mountains. This cabin is hands down the......
Our goal is to provide unique customized services for high-end customers. We excel at making personalized tours. You can see......
Exceptional fishing on Gordon Lake, 100 km northeast of Yellowknife. Fish for Lake Trout, up to to 56 lbs! Fly in by......
An Indigenous, family owned business with much history, knowledge and stories to share about the Spectacular Northwest Territories! We used......
Our vision is to see the Beaufort-Delta Region of Canada’s western arctic become the dream destination for motorcycle adventure enthusiasts from......
Pehdzeh Ki First Nation is located in the community of Wrigley, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are a Designated Authority in......
Boat tours in the wildlife-rich Slave River delta and fishing at Taltson Big Pike Lodge....
Ena Lake Lodge is a one-of-a-kind, all-inclusive luxury fishing and outdoors experience in Northern Canada. Come and experience authentic fly-in......
Welcoming and friendly with a rustic charm and all modern conveniences, Grey Goose Lodge immediately catches your eye as you......
For 35 years, Sambaa K’e has offered world-class fishing on Trout Lake just north of the Northwest Territories-British Columbia border.......
Chuck Gruben is an active Inuvialuit hunter and trapper very knowledgeable in the Tuktoyaktuk area offering customized tours (hunting, hiking,......
Fishing and Barrenlands wildlife photography, including migrating caribou, at the Obstruction Rapids in the central Barrenlands north of Yellowknife....
To truly experience the Northwest Territories, take your camping gear for a highway driving adventure! Long ribbons of road without......
Remote naturalist’s lodge snuggled in the Mackenzie Mountains, in the largest mountain wilderness in North America. Located along the Canol......
