Norwegian island where the sun doesn’t set for 69 days in the summer wants to scrap TIME
AN island in Norway wants to become the first ‘time-free zone’ in the world.
Locals have signed a petition for change that means for two months of the year, when it gets sun light 24-hours a day, it will not have any form of time restraints.
The island of Sommaroy, translated to Summer Island, doesn’t get dark at all between May 18 and July 26 due to its location in the north of Norway, near the Arctic Circle.
With the sun not setting at all for the full 69 days, it means there is no conventional day-to-day running of the island, which is home to 300 people.
The island also doesn’t experience any sunrise between November and January, when its residents live in total darkness.
Local Kjell Ove Hveding said in a statement published on CNN: “There’s constantly daylight, and we act accordingly.
“In the middle of the night, which city folk might call ‘2 a.m.,’ you can spot children playing soccer, people painting their houses or mowing their lawns, and teens going for a swim.”
The petition was taken to the town hall earlier this week to discuss the changes needed to remove the time zone and how to bring them into practice.
Locals already ignore the concept of time during the summer months, with the main trades of fishing and tourism not abiding by the usual opening hours.
It’s hopes that if the time-free zone is introduced, there will also be no opening or closing times for shops or schools and people will be allowed flexible working hours.
Kjell told NRK: “All over the world, people are characterised by stress and depression.
Places in the world where the sun doesn't set
Norway – between April 20 and August 22
Finland – between May and August
Sweden – between June and July
Alaska – between May 10 and August 2
Iceland – between mid-May and mid-August
Canada – between May 24 and July 20
North Pole – between late March and late September
South Pole – betweem September 23 and March 20
“In many cases this can be linked to the feeling of being trapped, and here the clock plays a role. We will be a time-free zone where everyone can live their lives to the fullest.”
However, some locals were unsure how easy it would be to operate for the tourism sector.
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Malin Nordheim, a receptionist at a hotel, also told the national broadcaster: “It will be challenging with the guests in connection with check-in and check-out, opening hours at the bar and restaurant.”
It isn’t the only strange law in Norway – there is also a remote town where it is illegal to die.
The town of Longyearbyen has to send dead bodies from the island due to the cold temperature which means bodies are unable to decay.