The north pole is completely dark and other places in the northern hemisphere experience the shorter day lengths and colder temperatures of winter as the Sun traces a lower arc across the southern sky and the Sun’s rays strike the surface at a lower angle.

Alaska Gets Six Months of 24-Hour Sunlight and Darkness Interestingly, this myth was perpetrated by our science books for many years. The 24-hour daylight and darkness still happen in Alaska, just less so. Barrow is one of Alaska’s northernmost cities and gets complete darkness for two months out of the year.

Utqiaġvik, Alaska, the northernmost town in the US, experiences darkness from November to January every year. The phenomenon is called a polar night. The sun won’t rise in Utqiaġvik again until January 23.

On the summer solstice (June 21st), all of the Earth’s area north of the Arctic Circle (66½°N) is bathed in sunlight for 24 hours. The primary reason is that the sun is low on the horizon all day. Thus, solar energy needs to pass through more atmosphere to get to the ground.

I hope that my story demonstrates that we do in fact have four seasons here in Yellowknife, and regardless of the season, whether it is +30 degrees Celsius or -30 degrees, each one presents boundless opportunities for good times and newness (even for a life long Yellowknifer)!

How Much Snow Normally Accumulates in Yellowknife. For about 192 days, more than half the year, Yellowknife has at least a centimetre of snow on the ground. In mid-winter the snowpack averages 29 to 35 cm deep. The snow is usually at its deepest in March.

Yellowknife sits on the shore of Great Slave Lake (the ninth largest lake in the world) near the outlet of the Yellowknife River. The lake is about the same size as Belgium. It’s also the deepest lake in North America boasting a depth of 614 metres (2,014 feet). The population of Yellowknife in 2016 was 19,569.

It is estimated that over 25 languages are spoken in Yellowknife, including eight official territorial languages. 6. Yellowknife became capital of the Northwest Territories in 1967, and was not officially a City until 1970. It’s currently the only city in the Northwest Territories!

Yellowknife is one of the best places to see the fabled Aurora Borealis, thanks to it’s northern location and lack of view-obscuring mountains and hills. You have the chance of glimpsing them all through the year, but your best chances will be from January to March.

Without a doubt, the best time to visit Yellowknife is during summer, in the months of June to September. Winters: To really experience the chill of winter, head to the North Western Territory. Winter months start from late October to February and beginning of March too.

November to March is usually the best time to see the lights as the skies are at their darkest. The time of night when the light appears varies depending on your region, but usually between 10 pm and 2 am is a good bet.

Our Favorite Things To Do in Yellowknife Northwest Territories

• Take A Yellowknife Northern Lights Tour.
• Drive The Dettah Ice Road.
• Explore Yellowknife Old Town.
• Go Dog Sledding In Yellowknife.
• Hike The Cameron Falls Trail In the Yellowknife Wilderness.
• Discover the Best Yellowknife Museums.

Yellowknife beats Whitehorse in the intensity of Northern Lights. But apart from northern lights there are many rivers, lakes and mountains to watch in Whitehorse. The winters in Whitehorse are milder as compared to Yellowknife. Both are great places to live if you went there with a job.

Driving to Yellowknife can be very straightforward. While many people drive to Yellowknife for fun as a road trip destination, many also drive to Yellowknife out of necessity, such as when you’re moving to the city.

Getting Around Yellowknife Yellowknife is pretty small and easy to get around. Taxis are readily available at the airport and around town, and many tours include pick up from your accommodation. The two main Yellowknife areas for hotels, restaurants and (non-outdoorsy) activities are the Old Town and Downtown.