In 2016, what was once known as Barrow, Alaska, became Utqiagvik, the northernmost town in the United States. This epic village lies just 320 miles north of the Arctic Circle, and every year, beginning in mid-November until mid-January, the sun sets behind Utqiagvik for nearly two entire months.
To counteract the two months of darkness, in mid-May, the sun rises over Utqiagvik and stays high in the sky for roughly 80 days. It’s home to plenty of weather phenomena, including fogbow, or white rainbows.
Due to its remote location, Utqiagvik is often called “The Top of the World.” Approximately 4,000 people call this unique town home, even though it isn’t even accessible via road yet still the economic center of the North Slope Borough.
For those interested in discovering the history of the places they visit, archaeological sites in Utqiagvik indicate that the Inupiat people made this area home as far back as 500 AD. You can learn more about the area’s history at the Inupiat Heritage Center.
For those looking to explore the Arctic Ocean, tour packages are available during the summer season. These tours offer exceptional opportunities to view polar bears, snowy owls, and learning about the region’s traditional cultures. Book a private jet with Stratos and fly into the jet charter airport in Barrow to see these other notable attractions:
- The Cape Smythe Whaling and Trading Station
- The Will Rogers and Wiley Post Monument
- The Birnirk Archaeological Site
- The Whale Bone Arch on the edge of the Arctic Ocean
