Sommaroy doesn’t experience a sunset for 69 days (Image: Getty)
Travellers are spoilt for choice when it comes to the number of stunning islands dotted across the world. Many of them may have similar qualities—such as being surrounded by and boasting stunning sandy beaches. But although the island of Sommaroy, Norway, is also renowned for its beautiful coastline, there is something quite special about this island as a rare phenomenon takes place there, drawing interest across the globe.
Between May 18 and July 26, the sun does not set and resulting in the spectacular phenomena known as the But what causes the sun to not go down for 69 days? It’s all due to the Sommaroy’s location. The island is located north of the and as the Earth’s axial tilts at a constant angle of 23.5 degrees when orbiting the sun, it means that during the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere tilts towards the sun resulting in it receiving continuous sunlight for more than 24 hours.
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Sommaroy Island is renowned for its beautiful landscapes (Image: Getty)
During this period, the residents are not bound by time, according to A number of sights and activities are open during the night time, allowing people to enjoy activities such as midnight golfing, cycling, river paddling, sea kayaking and even a bit of fishing.
With “no time to sleep” those who are in Sommaroy during the midnight sun season experience life like never before. Just 22 miles away is Tromso city, people can enjoy midnight sun concerts in the Arctic Cathedral featuring folk songs, hymns and traditional Norwegian melodies to celebrate the special time.
In 2019, the phenomenon grabbed global attention after Norway’s state-funded tourism agency, Innovation Norway, used local residents’ initiative for a time-free zone to capitalise on it and turn it into a tourism campaign, reports .
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The locals in Sommaroy live a “time-free” lifestyle (Image: Getty)
Local Kjell Ove Hveding acted as a representative for the group of residents behind the idea. There was even a meeting where islanders gathered at a town hall to sign a petition which was handed over to a member of the Norwegian parliament.
In a statement issued by Visit Norway around the time, he said: “To many of us, getting this in writing would simply mean formalising something we have been practising for generations.”
The time-free way of living is real on the island and for the islanders it will remain that way.