Curiosities of Science, Past and Present / A Book for Old and Young

by John Timbs

LENGTH OF DAYS AT THE POLES.

During the summer, in the northern hemisphere, places near the North Pole are in continual sunlight—the sun never sets to them; while during that time places near the South Pole never see the sun. When it is summer in the southern hemisphere, and the sun shines on the South Pole without setting, the North Pole is entirely deprived of his light. Indeed, at the Poles there is but one day and one night; for the sun shines for six months together on one Pole, and the other six months on the other Pole.