White nights in. When do the white nights begin? What do the city authorities and travel companies think about this?

Perhaps the most frequent question of a tourist who is going to St. Petersburg is when the northern capital becomes the “city of white nights”.

Taking a ride on a motor ship to open bridges and seeing it in almost daylight sounds good, doesn't it?

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So when will the white nights in St. Petersburg begin in 2019?

Many sources say that the White Nights start in St. Petersburg in 2019 strictly on June 11 and end on July 2. In fact, this is not at all the case.

We will analyze the topic from a scientific and practical point of view in order to put a final point on this issue.

Let's start by defining the term "white nights".

It is surprising that many confuse them with a polar day. During a polar day, the sun does not set over the horizon at all, but essentially moves along the horizon. If you are interested in this particular phenomenon, then you should head closer to the Pole, for example, to Vorkuta, Naryan-Mar, Norilsk, Salekhard or Usinsk.

On a white night, the sun goes beyond the horizon, but not far away, sinking beyond the horizon at an insignificant angle. What happens on the street is not day, but dusk, and the closer the sun is to the horizon, the brighter they are.

There is even a division of twilight into the so-called "civil" (lighter), when the stars are not visible, and "sea" ("navigation") - when the main stars are already visible and you can navigate by them. In the first case, the sun sinks below the horizon at an angle of up to 6 degrees, in the second case - up to 12 °.

For understanding: in Moscow evening "civil" twilight lasts no more than an hour.

You will be surprised by the prices for renting motor ships in St. Petersburg
It is believed that the classic "white nights" are when the "civilian" evening twilight does not turn into the "sea" twilight, but immediately becomes morning. All objects are visible around the clock, no additional lighting is needed on the streets.

There is only one nuance: such twilight "from dusk to dawn" is possible only at latitudes above 60 ° 60'00 ″, and St. Petersburg is at 59 ° 57'00 ″. That is, in the "city of white nights", if you approach it formally, there are none: even at the brightest midnight of June 20-21 there is a period when the sun sinks 7 degrees below the horizon.

But you will hardly notice it, and here's why.

Average daylight hours.

Here is a table from the officer's handbook that illustrates the length of daylight hours.
dateLatitude of location
64 °58 °52 °
May1
11
21
16 46
17 52
18 56
15 37
16 23
17 04
14 52
15 28
15 58
June1
11
21
20 00
20 44
21 00
17 42
18 04
18 11
16 24
16 38
16 45
July1
11
21
20 45
20 04
19 07
18 03
17 42
17 10
16 40
16 24
16 02
August1
11
21
17 58
16 53
15 48
16 29
15 43
14 55
15 29
14 56
14 20

Notice how at 64 ° latitude the period from May 21 to the end of July stands out, in which daylight hours exceed 19 hours, and at night with twilight there are less than 5 hours.

Since St. Petersburg is farther south, the period in which the length of the day approaches 19 o'clock starts from the last week of May and ends in mid-July. The night time is already short, but if we take into account the situation with twilight described above? And, do not forget, the city is always brighter than nature, due to its own lighting. Yes, formally brief "real" darkness does happen, but you probably won't notice it. You won't be able to admire the stars, and falling asleep with the curtains open will also be difficult.

In practice, in St. Petersburg it is light at night from late May to mid-July.

What do the city authorities and travel companies think about this?

As for the utilities, they are closer to the "practical" point of view. State Unitary Enterprise Lensvet (www.lensvet.spb.ru) approves outdoor lighting schedules every year.

If you look at the lighting schedule for 2019, you can immediately see when the White Nights will begin and end according to Lensvet. This is the time when the streets will only be lit until three in the morning, i.e. from the end of May to the second decade of July.

Mobile buffet - invented in St. Petersburg
The federal authorities, apparently, also apparently agreed that night Petersburg is quite presentable for foreign guests at the end of May: for example, the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, which usually took place in mid-June, last time was held from 1 to 3.06, and this year is scheduled for May 24-26.

Well, there is no need to talk about travel agencies and shipping companies: a lot of tourists come to the city according to tourist packages for the “white nights of St. Petersburg” at the end of May and in mid-July. It is very difficult to rent a hotel room or at this time, it is worth preparing in advance.

Let's summarize.

So, how long is the period of white nights in St. Petersburg?

1. In a formal sense, they do not exist at all.

2. From the point of view of an astronomer, the period as close as possible to them is from 11.06 to 02.07.

3.From a practical point of view, they last approximately from 25.05 to 15.07.

St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful megacities in the world, which amazes with its grace and splendor at a glance. Every summer thousands of tourists come to this amazing city, when there are white nights in St. Petersburg, in order to see with their own eyes how wonderful this natural phenomenon is.

Formation of St. Petersburg

On May 1, 1703, the Russian army conquered a Swedish fortress called Nyenschanz. But the Russian emperor did not like the fact that this fortress was located far from the sea.

Peter I carefully examined the adjacent territory and found the ideal place - Zayachiy Island. It was surrounded on all sides by the Neva River, and this made it possible to fire cannons at passing ships. And soon the Peter and Paul Fortress was built on the Hare Island.

The Russian emperor personally drew a scheme for the construction of the fortress. The architects built the fortress as soon as possible before the first frost. The fortress had powerful walls capable of withstanding a huge siege.

For the first ten years, this place was occupied by military units, a temple and Gostiny Dvor. An industrial enterprise was opened here in 1705. In 1712, the Russian sovereign announced an important decree to make the city of St. Petersburg the capital of Tsarist Russia. And two years later the Mint was moved to St. Petersburg.

By the end of the eighteenth century, more than 200,000 inhabitants lived in St. Petersburg. Many churches were built. In 1785 a Duma was formed in St. Petersburg.

Today St. Petersburg continues its active development.

When do the white nights begin?

In the summer of 2016 in St. Petersburg it will be light at night from June 11th to July 10th... At this time, there are many townspeople on the streets of St. Petersburg. The time of the white nights coincides with a large-scale event for graduates of St. Petersburg educational institutions with the romantic name Alye Parusa. And thousands of young men and women have fun until the morning under the bright sky of their hometown.

Surprisingly, during the magical period of bright nights in the city on the Neva, athletes come from all over the world. Every year a sports marathon starts in St. Petersburg. Enduring athletes will run more than forty kilometers - from Palace Square and further along the delightful embankments and numerous streets of this amazing city.

During the white nights, millions of tourists from all over the world strive to get to the city on the Neva and see with their own eyes not only an insanely beautiful city, but also wonderful white nights.

Why are there white nights in St. Petersburg?

White night is called daylight. White nights are like cloudy days. In order to find out what this natural phenomenon is, it is necessary to understand why it is dark at night. Planet Earth rotates not only around its own axis, but also around the sun. When the sun rotates in the shady part of the earth, it is dark.

In St. Petersburg, the sun does not set during the white nights. It is not dark at night, but only gloomy. Scientists call this natural phenomenon a polar day.

Sometimes the sun does not completely go beyond the horizon, but later a new day comes and the sun, never having time to go beyond the horizon, begins to gradually rise. As a result, the night does not have time to enter into its legal rights, as a new day begins again.

Where are the white nights? List of countries

Beautiful white nights happen not only in St. Petersburg, but also in Finland. Since childhood, the inhabitants of Finland have become accustomed to dark nights, which last in their country for more than six months, and in hot weather, dark nights are replaced by an amazing phenomenon called the "midnight sun".

Most of the people on planet Earth who most often saw the magical white nights are citizens of cold Finland. In the capital city of Helsinki, the sun has not set over the horizon for at least two months. And in the southern regions of the state, white nights come into their legal rights. Therefore, the sun does not hide behind the horizon even late at night. Finland has an insanely short summer, and therefore at this time tourists and townspeople walk in the squares, as well as daily performances of popular artists and children's performances.

During the summer months, tourists come to Finland to see with their own eyes and photograph the splendor and charm of this city, take a walk through the beautiful forests, play golf with their mates, catch fish in a clear water body and swim in a boat.

One of the most beautiful natural phenomena - white Nights can be seen not only in the northern capital, but also in such states as:

  • Estonia;
  • Norway;
  • United Kingdom;
  • Sweden;
  • Canada;
  • Greenland;
  • Iceland;
  • Finland;
  • Denmark;
  • Antarctica.

Various events and celebrations are organized in the city during the polar nights. Residents of the city believe that during the white nights there is no need to go to bed, but to have fun and walk.

For more than one century, St. Petersburg has been rightfully considered the cultural capital. Every year many tourists come to see this marvelous city, and when there are white nights in St. Petersburg, the city just comes alive.

What is the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights are a multicolored sparkle in the sky. Usually, the northern lights shimmer with bluish-emerald lights and inserts of light pink and scarlet. These are a kind of colored stripes in the night sky, which simply amaze the imagination with their scales and tints. The Northern Lights are caused by numerous processes taking place on the Sun.

Air consists of a mixture of different gases. The sun kicks off protons and electrons, and then they interfere with the air and meet with the molecules of protons and electrons. In a strong collision, atoms lose their own electrons, while other atoms are excited, taking on an energy charge. After the atom has completely calmed down, it slowly but surely emits a light photon.

When nitrogen molecules collide, they completely dump electrons and begin to emit dark blue and violet light. But when a molecule is excited, but at the same time it does not shed a single electron, then it emits a scarlet color. When oxygen molecules and solar wind converge, the number of electrons does not change. The molecule becomes highly electrified, and then emits a scarlet and emerald light.

At the North Pole, on any night you can see the northern lights, in Scandinavia - from twenty to two hundred times a year. In France and England, the Northern Lights can be seen seven times a year. And once the northern lights were even in Mexico.

How and where does the rainbow come from? Color order

The rainbow is truly an amazing natural phenomenon. Many peoples have thought about the nature of this phenomenon since ancient times. Rainbow falls mother rain. And it appears after heavy rainfall.

Rainbow is multi-colored arc in the sky... This arc can be seen on the opposite side of the sky to the sun, and the bright sun is not overcast. Most often, the beautiful arc can be seen in the warm summer by walking after a warm rain. Also, a rainbow can be observed near waterfalls or fountains.

The source of the multi-colored arc is the light of the bright sun, decomposed into components. A prism decomposes a ray of sunlight into its components. In the case of a rainbow, raindrops play the role of a “prism”.

The colors of the rainbow are in the following order:

  1. Red;
  2. Orange;
  3. Yellow;
  4. Green;
  5. Blue;
  6. Blue;
  7. Violet.

A rainbow can be seen when it is pouring rain and the sun is shining at the same time. In order to see the rainbow with your own eyes, you need to stand between rain and sun. Provided that the rain is in front and the sun is behind.

There are many more amazing phenomena in nature. There is romance in the air when there are white nights in St. Petersburg, couples in love swear to each other in eternal love and fidelity, and school graduates enter adulthood and dream of the future.

Video about White Nights in St. Petersburg

How did they appear, and how can this phenomenon be explained? Such amazing nights are found not only on the banks of the Neva, but also in many other parts of our planet. For most people, they are associated with something mystical, inexplicable, and now we will discuss all this.

What are the white nights

Young children ask many questions, and parents and teachers explain to them what certain concepts are. Any explanation is accompanied by the phrase: "Only this way and nothing else!" This forms in people the concept that the sun is shining during the day and therefore it is light, and at night it becomes dark due to the appearance of the moon. This is the correct order of day and night, and we are used to it, but sometimes nature changes its rules. White nights are such a non-standard "trick" of hers.

The white nights of St. Petersburg are twilight, which extends throughout the dark hours of the day. Twilight, from the point of view of astronomy, is usually called the period when the sun is located at the shallowest depth under the horizon.

Why St. Petersburg?

In most cases, white nights are associated with the great St. Petersburg. It should be noted that this is far from the only city in which you can observe such an excellent phenomenon, the creator of which is nature itself. The white nights of St. Petersburg are considered the most beautiful, although a similar phenomenon can be admired in Surgut, Murmansk or Arkhangelsk. However, only one of these cities was destined to become famous.

People from all over the world come to St. Petersburg to enjoy this incredible spectacle. Even the locals are looking forward to this event with tenderness and trepidation. This is not surprising, since the city is famous not only for its special nights. It is impossible to remain indifferent when observing the historical heritage, unsurpassed scenery, architecture and atmosphere. And if you add white nights to all this? That is why St. Petersburg is a city of white nights. Only he was awarded this honorary title.

When do these nights begin and how long

In Russia, this amazing phenomenon can be observed at different periods in different cities.

  • St. Petersburg. White nights - the period from approximately late May to early July. More precisely, they usually start on June 11 and last until July 2.
  • Arkhangelsk. Here the white nights come a little later, namely on May 13th. And they end at the end of July.
  • Petrozavodsk. Here the nights are brighter and longer.
  • Vorkuta, Murmansk and Norilsk. Their common feature is polar days and nights.

Why do they arise?

Probably, many are interested in why the nights are white? How does this phenomenon arise? It occurs due to the presence of the sun under the horizon at a shallow depth. This period is called twilight, and they have several gradations.

  • Civil twilight. At this time, it is quite light outside, but the stars are not visible in the sky. They begin immediately after sunset. They last until the luminary drops 6 degrees below the horizon.
  • Navigational. When twilight falls, you can admire the bright stars that are perfectly visible in the sky.
  • Astronomical twilight. The celestial body must descend 12 degrees below the horizon, and then they will come.

The main reason for the appearance of white nights is latitude. At low latitudes, the above types of twilight change at such a rate that we do not notice it. A completely different situation occurs with high latitudes, where this wonderful natural phenomenon is observed.

The sun's rays illuminate the planet differently due to the tilt of the Earth to the plane of its orbit. During the summer solstice, the northern polar region becomes more illuminated, and at latitudes above 65 degrees, a polar day begins. So it is customary to call the period when the heavenly body does not descend beyond the horizon.

Unforgettable moments

Petersburg White Nights are accompanied by a number of cultural events. The scale and uniqueness of some of them is simply unique. Tourists, like the residents of the city themselves, enjoy admiring this exciting spectacle and take part in entertainment events.

One of the events timed to coincide with the White Nights is the Scarlet Sails All-Russian Alumni Ball. The first stage of the event takes place on land and in the daytime, and the second is held in the water area of \u200b\u200bthe Neva. At night you can watch this grandiose multimedia pyrotechnical show.

Another unique event in the northern capital is the music festival, which bears the name of the time and place of its holding, namely "White Nights of St. Petersburg". It is attended by stars of both domestic and world scale.

Most important event

The most important event that accompanies the white nights is the opening of bridges and the passage of motor ships along the Neva. It should be noted that this is a mesmerizing and very beautiful sight that cannot be missed during a night walk in St. Petersburg.

There is a certain schedule for raising bridges, so you can admire not only the beauty of the white nights.

As you can see, white nights are not only a mesmerizing natural phenomenon, but also a cultural value. Once you see the white nights of St. Petersburg, you can never forget it. The unique beauty of the city and this amazing natural phenomenon were glorified by great classics and painters, including such famous personalities as F.M.Dostoevsky and A.S. Pushkin. They sang the white nights in their works, which made the city famous throughout the world. Be sure to visit the northern capital during the White Nights and enjoy this spectacle.

Of course, people who want to visit the city this year and have never encountered a similar phenomenon are interested in the question, when in St. Petersburg white nights in 2018?

When the city is "awake"

By the end of May, the night in our northern city is getting quite short, and Peter is entering a period of "insomnia." Outside the window it is light day and night, do not fall asleep. Citizens draw blackout curtains on the windows, and tourists have the opportunity to extend their acquaintance with the city and stretch the pleasure for as long as 24 hours.

The exact dates of the White Nights in St. Petersburg different sources indicate in their own way, changing them from year to year. If we proceed from the geographical location of the city, the White Nights in St. Petersburg "start" on May 26, reaching their peak on the day of solar opposition - June 22. They end on July 17th.

Festive events in St. Petersburg

During the White Nights period, the city traditionally hosts many interesting events. You can visit both city holidays and international competitions and festivals. Opens a colorful extravaganza City Festival. The Stars of the White Nights International Music Festival continues until the return of the usual "dark nights".

City Celebration

The birthday of St. Petersburg is celebrated on May 27. In 2018, this significant date falls on Saturday. The celebration will take place at numerous venues in the city. In the evening, at 9 o'clock, the magnificent annual show "Classics on Dvortsovaya" will begin. World-class opera soloists will perform in the open-air format on the square.

Stars of the White Nights International Festival

The 2018 classical music festival, which is held annually under the direction of Valery Gergiev, will take place from May 26 to July 23. The best ballet and opera performances will be presented on the stage of the Mariinsky. The audience will be introduced to the premiere screenings. Symphony and chamber orchestras will perform.

Scarlet Sails

Already several generations of Petersburg graduates have been admiring an unforgettable sight - a schooner with scarlet sails slowly glides along the Neva. The time of the holiday is usually timed to coincide with the solstice (day off closest to June 22), but changes are possible. The exact date of Scarlet Sails is usually announced by the city administration in the last days of May or at the beginning of June.

International Marathon "White Nights"

In 2018, the marathon traditionally held in St. Petersburg will be held on July 22. They will start at 9 o'clock in the morning at Palace Square. Athletes will finish there. Professional athletes will run the usual 42 km 193 meters. Lovers are offered a shortened route - 10 kilometers. The route runs along the central streets of the city. Registration of the marathon participants began in January.

International Festival "Swing of the White Night"

The St. Petersburg Jazz Festival usually takes place in the last days of June. The best jazz bands from all over the world perform in the Jazz Philharmonic. The last day of the festival is open-air. Jazz lovers can enjoy the skills of the performers performing at the stage near the Russian Museum for free. In 2018, the holiday is planned to be held on June 30.

How transport works

In the white nights, guests of St. Petersburg can admire the characteristic spectacle of our city - the raised bridges. The sight is beautiful, but it is better to enjoy it without leaving the island where your hotel is located. Petersburg is built on islands, a raised bridge can cut you off from your habitat. The night metro train, which allows you to cross the Neva between the Sportivnaya and Admiralteyskaya stations, carries passengers on a limited basis (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays). Night buses duplicate the metro lines closed at night from 0 to 6 hours within the islands.

How to get to St. Petersburg

You can get to St. Petersburg by any means of transport - by train, plane, bus. It is necessary to attend to the purchase of air tickets or train tickets in advance, because there are usually many who want to visit the city, immersed in the mystery of the white nights.

Where to stay in St. Petersburg

Mysterious white nights in St. Petersburgattracting crowds of tourists affect the level of hotel room rates. You can find cheap accommodation in numerous hostels and mini-hotels. Comfortable rooms with the necessary minimum of amenities will fully satisfy the needs of those tourists who have come to enjoy walks around our city. In order not to run around the city in search of accommodation, it is advisable to book hotels in advance.

  • Summer in the northern city of St. Petersburg is fraught with surprises. When going on a night walk, bring an umbrella and something "warm".
  • Wear comfortable shoes. The city is big, you want to see everything, you have to walk a lot.
  • When planning your trip, take some time to visit the palace complexes in the suburbs of St. Petersburg.
  • Shops and cafes are open at night in the city. If you get hungry, there is where and what to eat.

Our city loves guests. Come at any time, you will always be welcome.

The best time to relax in St. Petersburg is summer, and even better is the end of June - early July. For it is at this time that you will be able to observe the "white nights". But keep in mind that it is at this time that prices in hotels are the highest, and prices in June can be 3-4 times more than in February for the same room.

Plane and train tickets must be purchased in advance, as well as hotel rooms. In recent years, due to the rapid opening of numerous mini-hotels, the situation with the number of rooms at peak dates has improved, but it is still strongly recommended to book hotels and apartments for a month or two if you want to relax at the peak of the white nights or during the New Year holidays. Railway tickets, especially for reserved seat cars, must be purchased 45 days before the start date of the trip, because they will no longer be available in 43 days.

Another best time to relax in St. Petersburg is the New Year holidays. But keep in mind that in winter you will not be able to appreciate all the beauty of the suburbs of St. Petersburg (although the palaces are usually open), you will not be able to ride a boat along the rivers and canals (unless you rent an icebreaker on the Gulf of Finland). Also, walks around the city can become extreme, because the temperature in winter can drop below 30 degrees, and the humid air from the Gulf of Finland will add an unforgettable experience.

If in summer the length of daylight hours increases to 24 hours, then in winter in St. Petersburg the opposite effect is observed. The sun rises at 10 am and it will be dark by 5 pm. Sometimes in winter you can see the northern lights.

Of course, one of the brightest decorations of winter holidays is the New Year trees, which are sure to stand until mid-January. Christmas trees themselves are often a work of art, and will only complement the magnificent lighting of architectural masterpieces if the poor townspeople do not steal the poorly fixed Christmas tree decorations.

Another season worthy of attention and praised by Pushkin himself is the golden autumn. In St. Petersburg, it usually happens in late September - early October. At this time, Pavlovsk, Tsarskoe Selo, Peterodvorets and Gatchina amaze the imagination with their beauty, and the number of tourists is approaching zero. True, the fountains of Peterhof at this time no longer work, but the boats sail through the canals until the end of November.

White Nights

There is an opinion among ordinary people that the white nights are a period of time when the sun does not set at all. In fact, White Nights are nights during which natural light never gets too low, i.e. the whole night is only twilight. In St. Petersburg, the peak of the white nights falls on June 22, and officially the white nights last from June 11 to July 2. In fact, all summer the length of the day in St. Petersburg is much longer than, for example, in Moscow.

Much brighter and longer nights are observed in cities north of St. Petersburg, for example, Arkhangelsk or Murmansk. Murmansk is located beyond the Arctic Circle, so in winter another phenomenon is observed there - the polar night, i.e. there are days in the year when the sun does not rise at all.

Holidays in St. Petersburg

Many holidays are celebrated in the northern capital every year. There are especially many celebrations in summer and spring. Many of them will be of interest to tourists and those who came to St. Petersburg for work.

On holidays, unique events are held, which are impossible to see on ordinary days. For example, fireworks or fireworks (on Victory Day, City Day or on the Day of the Navy), a sailing regatta in the water area of \u200b\u200bthe Neva, a concert with the participation of popular artists on Palace Square or on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. Such concerts are completely free of charge, and if you want to see your idol declared in the program, then you should take a seat near the stage in advance.

On the other hand, holidays can create certain problems due to limited movement in the city center, rising hotel prices, lack of train and other tickets on sale, and simply crowding around attractions. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with popular events in order to be able to adjust the dates of your trip.