Polar Day & Night

What the extreme seasonal cycle of midnight sun and polar night means for the islands.

Polar Night in Franz Josef Land

| Polar Day & Night |

Polar night in Franz Josef Land is the period of continuous darkness that lasts about 133 days each year, beginning in early November and ending in mid‑February. It is the longest polar night in Russia, affecting the entire archipelago from Rudolf Island to Alexandra Land. The phenomenon shapes the region’s climate, wildlife behaviour, and scientific research.

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Midnight Sun in Franz Josef Land

| Polar Day & Night |

The midnight sun is the period of continuous daylight that occurs each summer on Franz Josef Land, the high‑Arctic Russian archipelago centred at 81° N. Owing to its extreme latitude, the islands experience several months without night, profoundly influencing local climate, wildlife behaviour and scientific observations.

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