Sommarøy is a tiny fishing village in Northern Norway. It sits above the Arctic Circle. On this island, the sun does not “act” normally as in other part of the world.
From late May until late July, the sun never sets. It means, this island has 69 days of nonstop daylight. Moreover, during the winter, the island stays completely dark for month. Why does this happen?
A Place Where The Clock "Doesn't Work"
This unique phenomenon happens because of the Earth’s movement. The planet does not stand straight up and down. It is tilted at an angle 23.5° as it orbits the sun.
Thus, because of this tilt, the North Pole faces directly toward the sun during the summer months. Since Sommarøy is located way up inside the Arctic Circle, it gets stuck in the sun's path. As the Earth rotates on its axis to create day and night for the rest of the world, the top of the planet stays pointing at the sun.
Sommarøy is a very small and tight-knit community. Approximately, there are only 300 permanent residents.
Most of the people who live here make their living from the ocean. For generations, the locals have been expert fishermen, catching massive amounts of herring and cod.
In fact, the island has a huge, high-tech processing plant where fish are frozen and exported all over the world. The rest of the population works in local tourism, running cozy hotels, seaside cabins, and restaurants that serve fresh seafood like king crab and halibut.
During the bright summer months, people on Sommarøy completely lose track of normal hours. Once, a local man named Kjell Ove Hveding started a movement to make the island the world’s first "time-free zone."
He said that clocks only cause stress and make people unhappy. He wanted his neighbors to just enjoy the good weather whenever it happened, without worrying about the hour.
On Sommarøy, it is very normal to see kids playing outside at midnight. Others also might go to the park just to have fun at night.
The Beauty of Sommarøy
The name “Sommarøy” literally translates to "Summer Island." Hundreds of years ago, the locals didn't actually live here full-time. They stayed on a neighboring island and only used Sommarøy as a safe place to let their cows graze during the warm summer months.
Today, the island is tightly connected to its modern neighbor, Hillesøy Island, by a low bridge. Many locals live on one side and work on the other, crossing back and forth multiple times a day without ever caring about the hour.
Sommarøy also known as one of the most beautiful hidden gems in Norway. The island is surrounded by white sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise water.
Tourists love to go sea kayaking around the small islands or try stand-up paddleboarding under the midnight sun. The island is also famous for its rich marine life. Divers can explore hidden Arctic coral reefs, and fishing enthusiasts can easily catch massive cod and halibut right off the coast.
Sommarøy also offers incredible hiking trails with breathtaking views. The most popular hike is up Mount Ørnfløya.
It is a relatively easy walk. From the top, visitors can see the entire village of Sommarøy with its tiny bridges, and the endless blue ocean stretching out to the horizon.
Despite becoming a popular travel destination, the island has kept its authentic charm. It is still a working fishing community.
Visitors can walk around the local harbor, watch the traditional fishing boats come in with their daily catch, and taste fresh seafood at the local restaurants.
What makes everything seems more unrealistic is the traditional wooden houses painted in bright red and yellow. This makes the whole island look like a living postcard.
