Long days and nights affect regions of several countries, located near or above the Arctic Circle. In some cities and towns in the region, there may be less than three hours of sunlight a day.
This phenomenon, known as polar night, is caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis. In summer, an opposite phenomenon occurs, also known as the midnight sun, due to which the days become endless. The Svalbard Islands, halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, are the place in that country where the Midnight sun lasts the longest.