The history of Kaktovik is steeped in cold, isolation, and mystery. The town was established in the early 1920s by a group of commercial traders...
Sunset
Twilight
Darkness
Most people know that sunset is the time when the sun goes down. But did you know that the sun doesn't actually set? Instead, Earth rotates into darkness, giving us the illusion that the sun is setting. So what causes sunset?
Well, it's a combination of things. The Earth's atmosphere scatters sunlight in every direction, but blue and violet light are scattered more than other colors. This is why the sky is usually blue during the daytime. As the sun gets lower in the sky, the atmosphere becomes thicker and more dense.
This scattering of sunlight happens to a greater extent, and we see red and orange light more than blue and violet light. That's why sunset is usually a beautiful red or orange color. So next time you see sunset, remember that you're actually seeing Earth rotate into darkness!
Kaktovik, AK, is an uninhabited town in the heart of the remote Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The town was established in the early 1920s as a remote trading post with the intent of supporting the fisheries of the refuge. Today, Kaktovik is a small, self-sustaining community that has seen only limited growth since its inception.
The climate in Kaktovik is incredibly cold and harsh; the average annual temperature is below freezing. The winters are long and harsh, with blizzards commonplace, while the summers are short and hot. The nearest population centers are eight miles to the east in Bethel, and 64 miles to the west in Anchorage, AK.
The population of Kaktovik is currently zero. The town is permanently inhabited by 49 wildlife species, including caribou, wolves, bears, and eagles. Kaktovik is situated in an important migratory pathway for birds, and boasts populations of both common and rare birds.
The history of Kaktovik is steeped in cold, isolation, and mystery. The town was established in the early 1920s by a group of commercial traders who sought to support the fisheries of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Though the town has seen only limited growth since its inception, the people of Kaktovik are fiercely independent and fiercely protective of their town.
}As the sun sets, the sky slowly grows dark. For many people, this is a time to relax and wind down for the day. But have you ever wondered exactly when it gets dark? The answer may surprise you.
Did you know that darkness actually begins long before the sun sets? As the sun gets lower in the sky, its light has to travel through more atmosphere. This filters out some of the blue light, making the sun look redder. At the same time, shadows get longer and darker. So by the time the sun finally dips below the horizon, darkness has already begun to fall.
Of course, not all places on Earth experience darkness at the same time. Near the equator, the sun sets and rises almost directly overhead. This means that there is less of a difference between daytime and nighttime. Closer to the poles, however, the sun stays low in the sky for much of the year. This leads to longer periods of darkness during wintertime.