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How many consecutive days of total darkness... | Almanac.com

How many consecutive days of total darkness...

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How many consecutive days of total darkness does the Arctic experience each year?
Answer
The answer to this question varies depending on where in the Arctic. First, the Arctic region is defined by 66 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, which represents the southernmost point at which there is at least one 24-hour period of continuous darkness in winter or sunlight in summer. The Antarctic is just the opposite, being defined by 66 degrees 30 minutes south latitude. In the Arctic, the length of continuous daylight or darkness increases as you go north, from one day on the Arctic Circle to six months at the North Pole, with daylight dominating beginning about June 21 and being fully reversed by about December 21.