The 24-hour darkness during the winter near the Poles can disrupt sleep – this is how the people who live there cope.

Imagine not seeing the Sun for weeks or even months. It’s dark, the air has a freezing sharp bite and everything is covered with thick snow.

But even in the midst of the polar night, it isn’t pitch black. At times the rays of the Sun filter weakly through the upper layers of the atmosphere, creating twilight shades of blue, pink and purple.

There’s also light from the Moon and the stars. The northern lights make a frequent appearance and the snow reflects all artificial light, creating a “snowglow” that makes everything look brighter.

It is a stunningly beautiful time of year for those living in the Arctic. For locals, the polar night is part of life, and many thrive, embracing the season. Some even say they sleep better than they do at other times of the year.