topic Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020 in Community Chat

The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

MorningLover — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 22:41:31 GMT

The next time I start to complain about it getting dark too soon, I will think about this. I wouldn't survive..I would be so depressed!

Nov. 18, 2019

Utqiagvik, Alaska (formally known as Barrow) just plunged into polar darkness that will last the next two months. Today, the sun will set on the city of around 4,300 residents for the final time of 2019. The next dawn will be January 23, 2020. That’s a period of 67 days of total darkness.

Hundreds of miles north of the Arctic Circle, Utqiagvik is the northernmost city in the United States. It’s located 2,000 miles north of Seattle, Washington.

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

gidgetgh — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:06:27 GMT

I don't say this to be cute or over dramatic. When I tell you that I truly couldn't handle that, I couldn't.

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

hayseed00 — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:08:04 GMT

@MorningLoveri couldn't take that much darkness. Reminds me of that series years ago called "Northern Exposure" , I remember episodes where they were living with the polar darkness.

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

Lucky Charm — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:14:41 GMT

Wow, today is a heat wave there. 21* but going down to -2*. (Real feel -22*) Tomorrows high is 6*, then Wed. 8*.

So it seems the temps hover around 8* during the day and 0 at night.

THAT I couldn't take!

I guess the people are used to it?

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

Tricolor — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:24:07 GMT

I don't get depressed over cloudy gloomy days but wow this would be very difficult I would imagine. I guess the residents adjust. Your internal clock I would think would be affected also.

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

CatsyCline — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:34:57 GMT

this would require 2 months supply of Vodka

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:38:41 GMT

I would go bat s**t crazy after a week.

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

MorningLover — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:38:45 GMT

This would require a pair of night vision googles.

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

traveler — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:47:54 GMT

Here in Anchorage we will have 7 hours 8 minutes of daylight. Of course we will continue to lose light until Dec.21. As I age I find I prefer to drive after 9 am with a bit of light. I find it harder to deal with the summer light of 20 hours.

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

golding76 — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 17:33:27 GMT

Such prolonged darkness would break my spirit and push me to the brink.

I need the sun to thrive.

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

goldensrbest — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 18:20:32 GMT

I seriously could not stand it ,with the time change, and cloudy days we are having i am really down.

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

Montana — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 21:38:19 GMT

This reminds of the Ray Bradbury story "All Summer in a Day". The sun only shines for two hours, every nine years.

I can't imagine being in the dark for months. Not sure how I would feel.

ETA: nine years

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

cherry — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 18:46:04 GMT

Every Night & every Morn

Some to Misery are Born

Every Morn and every Night

Some are Born to sweet delight

Some are Born to Endless Night

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

Witchy Woman — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 11:18:23 GMT

@ Montana

How interesting! I'm going to look for that.

Saw a movie once based on a Ray Bradbury story where it rained all the time. They had domes to shelter from it. I forget the story, but remember the continuous rain.

Think I saw that in a Trilogy with his "Illustrated Man" story.

His stories are strange and troubling!

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

Mz iMac — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 23:36:17 GMT

@traveler Speaking of Alaska.....

On my last trip to So. Africa, in our group was an Eskimo teenager from Alaska. He was travelling w/his stepfather who is non-Eskimo. They spoke to each other in Inuit (sp). I was highly intrigued as well as others in our group of 20 as we have never seen a real Eskimo. I gather you come into contact w/them every day.

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

traveler — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 00:49:11 GMT

I come in contact with Tlingit, Aleut, intuit and Athabaskan daily.

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

haddon9 — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 00:55:33 GMT

@gidgetgh wrote:
I don't say this to be cute or over dramatic. When I tell you that I truly couldn't handle that, I couldn't.

@gidgetgh Me either! sounds truly depressing...I would go into hibernation.

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

Bird mama — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 01:03:56 GMT

I don't think it's pitch dark 24/7. I imagine there is artificial lighting and life goes on. I think it would be interesting to go through it once in my lifetime.

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

jeanlake — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 01:04:33 GMT

I'm surprised there are 4300 people living there. Such an interesting fact. Thank you for sharing. I used the Google machine (snicker) and it's not only a polar night but below midnight. Many scientists live there. Accessible by plane. No connecting roads. Now I'm surprised the population isn't 300.

Re: The Sun Has Set In Utqiagvik, Alaska And Won't Rise Again Until 2020

sunshine 919 — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 02:47:44 GMT

@MorningLover wrote:
The next time I start to complain about it getting dark too soon, I will think about this. I wouldn't survive..I would be so depressed!

Nov. 18, 2019

Utqiagvik, Alaska (formally known as Barrow) just plunged into polar darkness that will last the next two months. Today, the sun will set on the city of around 4,300 residents for the final time of 2019. The next dawn will be January 23, 2020. That’s a period of 67 days of total darkness.

Hundreds of miles north of the Arctic Circle, Utqiagvik is the northernmost city in the United States. It’s located 2,000 miles north of Seattle, Washington.

Im with you on this. It would be very difficult for me. I have a hard time when it is dark early.