It probably won’t come as a surprise to many people, but it’s cold in the High Arctic. Actually, it’s really no colder than where I grew up in Manitoba, it’s just colder longer. And with much of the country in the grip of "Arctic Air" last week, I don’t think I’m going to generate much sympathy by relating our temperature today, which is hovering around -40C. But it may surprise you to know, that our coldest month of the year starts now, it comes with the return of the sun.
It seems incongruous that when that yellow orb returns to spread its warmth, that the temperature usually drops. It comes back in two days. I hope this isn’t a harbinger of the next month. Ikii.
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Brrrr
Just when I was feeling sorry for having a cold day, your colder day comes along and fixes my perspective.
Being able to compare notes all around the world is wonderful. I love to hear what it’s like in the arctic.
Hi Nina,
It’s hard for me to imagine (at -40 with my first real glimpse of the sun)hearing Spring Peepers. There are many days when I am really out of touch with the rest of the world’s rhythms and heart beats.
I also grew up in Manitoba and can attest to the cold being equal in temp, but not in quality. There is a difference between -40 with sun and -40 without. Although I was south of Arctic Bay the first time I expirienced no rising sun I also remember the feeling of the first rise. It was indeed colder, but the symbolic warmth and promise of the returning sun made it seem so much better. The Arctic has so much beauty if you are just open to it.