Daylight in Norway: Why Summer Days Are Endless & Winter Nights Are Long

Norway's extreme daylight variation is due to its high latitude (58°–71° North). The Arctic Circle crosses the country at ~66.5°N.

Summer (Mid-May to Late July)

• North of Arctic Circle: Midnight Sun – 24-hour daylight for weeks/months.
• South (Oslo, Bergen): Very long days (18–20 hrs), "white nights" – never fully dark.

Winter (Late Nov to Late Jan)

• North of Arctic Circle: Polar Night – Sun doesn't rise for weeks/months.
• South: Very short days (5–6 hrs in Oslo, 4–5 hrs in Bergen).

Equinoxes (Mar & Sep)

Near 12 hours day/night everywhere—like most of the world.

So: Days are longer than nights in summer (especially north); nights dominate in winter. It's latitude, not magic.