Land of the Midnight Sun

Picture 1 A boat marker on an island near Jakobstad about 9 p.m.
Picture 2 Austin on the rock outside Lena's house at 10:30(posed)
Picture 3 Austin on the rock at 11:30
Picture 4 Dramatic midnight sky on Midsummer Eve (Davis took this picture)
Picture 5 Early morning about 4:30

Since we arrived in Finland on May 28, we have had sunlight for basically 24 hours a day! With Midsummer Day, or the first day of summer, or the summer solstice having just passed yesterday, I thought I would share a variety of pictures with you to show you how bright it is during the evening and night.

A white night is when the sun does not sink below the horizon and is an arctic phenomenon. Of course, this is due to the earth's position in relation to the sun--the northern hemisphere receives more direct sunlight because it is tilting toward the sun. At the Arctic Circle, which is only a few hundred miles away to the north, the sun stopped rising or setting on June 6 and will stay above the horizon until July 7 when it will set for the first time in 31 days. It is hard to imagine until you experience it.

I have stopped the kids several times at 9 or 10 p.m. and said 'think about how bright it is now and what time it would be at home if it were this bright.' For instance, we have just come from the villa at 10:30 p.m. and it looks like 6:30 p.m. at home would look because the sun has dropped below the trees. At 9 p.m. you still need sunglasses outside in direct light because it is like 4 p.m. I have been awake at 4 a.m. and can clearly see my watch with the blinds closed. At 6:30 a.m. it looks like 10 a.m. It is incredible. I cannot say to the kids 'Come home when it gets dark'! We make them come inside so they do not wake the neighbors at 10 or 11 p.m.

Of course the opposite is true in winter. Only 5 or 6 hours of daylight and then it is not high above the horizon...in other words the sun is not overhead.

Enjoy the pictures.