Is it true that Reykjavik, Iceland experiences approximately 24 hours of sunlight on June 21 and if so, what is the reason for that?

zbeckabee

21-24 hours of reported daylight in Reykjavik. The midnight sun is a phenomenon occurring in latitudes north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle. The sun remains visible at the local midnight. Given fair weather, the sun is visible for a continuous 24 hours. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_sun http://www.rbcinvest.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/PEstory/LAC/20060526/RO6TRAVEL/Headlines/headdex/headdexBusiness/46/46/93/ Jun 28 07, 5:05 PM

zbeckabee

Here's a better link for the second one that I posted above... http://www.the-backpacking-site.com/countries/iceland-overview.html Jun 28 07, 5:08 PM

temujin2020

The places that this is most accurately said to enjoy sunlight at midnight are at and above the Arctic Circle, which is currently 66 degrees 30 minutes N. Murmansk Russia is the largest city that fits the bill. Others are Norilsk and Vorkuta ( infamous in the Gulag Archipelago ) Russia, & Tromso Norway. Northern parts of Finland, Canada, and Alaska are affected as well. At the same time, points on and south of the Antarctic Circle are experiencing 24 hours of darkness. There is no human habitation that far south except for intrepid folks in Antarctica. December 21st sees the situation reversed. Of corse Santa's workforce has been toiling in 24 hours of sunlight ever since the sun rose on April 21st. Jun 28 07, 5:42 PM

MonkeyOnALeash

And then there is the opposite effect. When there is a majority of darkness in said zones. (Earths Axis) Jun 28 07, 5:49 PM

Arpeggionist

The reason for it is simple: The Earth rotates around an axis that is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees in relation to its plain of orbit around the Sun. On June 21st the Earth's northern hemosphere receives more sunlight because of this, as the sunlight is directed at the Tropic of Cancer, and the sun's light reaches every point north of the Arctic Circle. On December 22nd, the opposite is the case, and on that day Reykjavik gets no sunlight. Jun 29 07, 12:22 AM

davejacobs

So since Reykjavik is south of the Arctic circle, the answer is no, not quite 24 hours. Surprisingly, the Arctic Circle cuts only the very northernmost part of Iceland. Jun 29 07, 8:51 AM