When we talk about the north and the Arctic, most of us picture snow, ice, and the northern lights, with a few polar bears and a narwhal thrown in for good measure. I for one think of dog sleds, biting winds, and the endless dark of winter — I’ve certainly never thought of the far north as a summer destination. I turned to Instagram to prove myself wrong and was schooled — very quickly — on the fact that when the sun barely sets, there’s a hell of a lot to see, explore, and do at the top of the world. Check out some of these ‘grams to see what the rest of the world is missing.
A post shared by Matthew Lee (@contrailsphotography) on Jun 28, 2018 at 2:49pm PDT
Descending into Iqaluit, in the province of Nunavut in Canada, looks almost tropical.
A post shared by McKayla Crump (@funkmastacrump) on Jun 25, 2018 at 2:43pm PDT
When the sun never sets, you can enjoy a midnight paddle like it ain’t no thang. This is the Kenai River, Alaska at 11:00 PM.
A post shared by Connor Gould (@connorrgould) on Jun 6, 2017 at 6:09pm PDT
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories comes alive with blues and greens.
A post shared by Lucas Tiefenthaler (@lucas_tiefenthaler) on Jul 5, 2018 at 10:18am PDT
That summertime glow lights up Trondheim, Norway.
A post shared by c a r i n a (@carinakampe) on Jul 5, 2018 at 2:22pm PDT
Those long, almost neverending, sunsets in Sweden aren’t too shabby, either.
A post shared by Tim in Alaska (@timthetoothninja) on May 23, 2018 at 1:39am PDT
So, sunset rainbows are a thing. This was taken at 11:30 PM outside Fairbanks, Alaska.
A post shared by Chad Bruce (@chadbrucee) on Jun 16, 2018 at 7:57am PDT
The Bahamas. No, wait. It’s another view from Nunavut.
A post shared by Julian (@julianglobetrotter) on Jul 5, 2018 at 8:04am PDT
You can hang out in the bustling metropolis of Longyearbyen, Norway, the northernmost city in the world.
A post shared by Scalia 🌏 | Scott & Kahlia (@scalia_worldwide) on Jul 1, 2018 at 3:07pm PDT
Waking up at Kathleen Lake, Yukon Territories looks alright.
A post shared by Frank Stelges (@frankstelges) on Jun 22, 2018 at 11:27am PDT
The famous Dalton Highway in Alaska under the midnight sun.
A post shared by @ekaterina_kartavova on Jun 19, 2018 at 3:37am PDT
Lofoten, Norway manages to look foreboding and tropical at the same time.
A post shared by ‘B' 27 | Alberta | 🇨🇦 (@brookewillson) on Jun 12, 2018 at 8:18am PDT
Hiking Nares Mountain in the Yukon brings crazy views of glacial lakes and still-snow-capped mountains.
A post shared by Stephanie Devina, J.D. (@ladyofjustice) on Jun 15, 2018 at 5:33am PDT
Purple midnight sunsets at the North Pole, Alaska sound like a bucket-lister to me.
A post shared by Chanette Bruun (@chanettebruun) on Jul 1, 2018 at 8:35am PDT
As does island hopping in northern Norway.
A post shared by Ivan (@ivan_crx) on Jul 5, 2018 at 5:32am PDT
You could literally paddle between glaciers, like this guy did at the Spencer Glacier in Alaska.
A post shared by Daniel Kordan (@danielkordan) on Jun 26, 2018 at 11:58am PDT
Or you can cruise among mighty giants in Greenland.
A post shared by Pam Butcher (@alaskapam213) on Jul 3, 2018 at 10:12pm PDT
Kick back on the seemingly endless stretch of sand at Bishop’s Beach outside Homer, AK.
A post shared by Finnish Lapland FilmCommission (@filmlapland) on Jul 4, 2018 at 6:02am PDT
You can hold the sun that barely sets in the palm of your hand in Lapland, Finland.
A post shared by CaLo Linares (@calholinares) on Jul 4, 2018 at 11:44am PDT
And just outside Longyearbyen, we’re back to looking strangely tropical. 
The post 19 Instagrams that prove summer at the top of the world is way cooler than we think appeared first on Matador Network.
