Experience Alaska's summer solstice with these 12 spectacular photos

Summer solstice is a big deal in Alaska. To celebrate the longest day of the year — when the sun never sets or barely sets across much of the state, offering just a few hours of cool twilight — many Alaskans take to the outdoors or stay up late to capture the setting sun. To honor this year's solstice, which fell on Monday, here are 12 spectacular solstice shots from around Alaska.

#boatlife has been fun! This place is so beautiful!!! And #fishing has had its obstacles as it does. Here’s a good old #sunset photo from tonight to celebrate the #solstice though I would have had no idea since I haven’t seen the sun actually set and darkness hit for almost a month now. #alaska : #sunsetchasing made easy. #sunsetsturnintosunrisesandthenitsdaytimeagain

A photo posted by Olivia (@pivalicious) on Jun 21, 2016 at 3:54am PDT

💚💛 #solsticesunset #hopealaska

A photo posted by Sankara (@laundryhustler) on Jun 21, 2016 at 2:22am PDT

Midnight photo for the midnight sun girl…. Happy Summer Solstice #Alaska ! You pretty AF.

A photo posted by Jamie Louis (@wamie03) on Jun 21, 2016 at 6:06am PDT

Happy solstice from Bristol bay Alaska. #bristolbay #alaska #sharealaska #fish #redsalmon #salmon #fishing #riverfishing #gillnetting #commercialfishing

A video posted by Tyler Wayman (@whereswayman) on Jun 21, 2016 at 4:59am PDT

Fishing on the solstice.. #flyfishing #kenairiver #fishak #fishing #fishak #alaska #midnightsun #twohandalaska #nofilter @murdockski

A photo posted by Kyle Murdock (@murdockyle28) on Jun 21, 2016 at 3:25am PDT

There’s just something about living in a place where the sun doesn’t set.. -9:55pm – Wolverine Peak, AK @bolle_eyewear @ussnowboarding

A photo posted by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Ryan Stassel (@ryanstassel) on Jun 20, 2016 at 11:39pm PDT

“Days get shorter and shorter, nights longer and longer, before you know it, your life is just one long night with a few comatose daylight hours.” #Cocktail Happy Summer Solstice from Alaska! #alldownhillfromhere #notinagoodway

A photo posted by Dustin Glazier (@dust_runs) on Jun 21, 2016 at 2:11am PDT

Midnight adventures #solstice #anchorage #alaska #cste2016

A photo posted by n i c o l e (@nicolecoton) on Jun 21, 2016 at 1:46am PDT

This is my bedtime view. Unalaska summer evenings never cease to amaze me. How blessed am I? #nofilter #Alaska

A photo posted by Laryanna Santiago (@laryannasantiago_) on Jun 21, 2016 at 1:06am PDT

Beautiful Alaskan skies over the Village of Koyukuk Alaska on June 20th at 11:36pm! . . . . #alaska #alaskan #sky #soltice #rainbow #rainbows #explorealaska #thealaskalife #garmin#fenix3 #explorer #adventure #nighttime #koyukuk #village #travel #traveldiaries #beautiful #sunset #landscape #photooftheday #landscapephotography #photography #bigstreetak #work #viewfrommyoffice #view #godspromise #doublerainbow #fenix3

A photo posted by B R I A N F L E M M I N G (@akultra_runner) on Jun 21, 2016 at 1:01am PDT

Midnight Sun ain’t too bad #solsticesunset

A photo posted by Jeffry Hesse (@aygueyguey) on Jun 21, 2016 at 12:24am PDT

10:30pm on the solstice in #anchorage #alaska

A photo posted by Charlotte Newman (@charlepaigne) on Jun 21, 2016 at 12:00am PDT