Midnight Journey: White Nights Season Starts in St. Petersburg

A common belief among people is that the white nights are a period of time when the sun never sets.

In reality, the white nights are period of time during which natural illumination doesn't reach a very low level, i.e. night consists only of twilight.

White nights are not only a natural phenomenon, but a true symbol of St. Petersburg. At this time, various cultural events are held, some of which occur just at the time when the twilight covers the city. The peak of the white nights season falls on June 22.

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Peter the Great's bridge opening around 2 a.m. during the white nights in St. Petersburg.

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Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg during the white nights.

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The walk of a giant Peter I doll at 5 a.m. during the white nights in St. Petersburg in connection with the KUKFO theater on the eve of City Day.

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Winter Canal in St. Petersburg during the white nights.

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People walk in Dvortsovaya (Palace) Square after midnight in St. Petersburg, Russia, with the Winter Palace in the background. The sun barely sets and it never gets completely dark. Around the longest day of the year, it begins to get a little darker in St. Petersburg around 11 p.m., reaching a kind of inky-blue twilight around 2 a.m.

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Winter Canal in St. Petersburg during the white nights.

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The mouth of White Canal and the view of the Trinity Bridge during the white nights in St. Petersburg.

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The Moyka River embankment from the Pevcheskiy Most (Song Bridge) during the white nights in St. Petersburg.

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People walk along the Neva River embankment at 3 a.m. during the white nights in St.Petersburg, Russia with the Birzhevoi bridge and St.Peter and Paul Cathedral in the background. The white nights last for about a month from the middle of June till the middle of July.

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Russian fans take a selfie at the Neva River embankment after midnight in St. Petersburg, Russia. The World Cup's taking place during the "white nights", when the sun barely sets and it never gets completely dark. Around the longest day of the year, it begins to get a little darker in St. Petersburg around 11 p.m., culminating in a kind of inky-blue twilight around 2 a.m.

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The mouth of White Canal during the white nights in St. Petersburg.

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An excursion by boat at 12:30 a.m. in front of the Palace Embankment during the white nights in St. Petersburg.

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Lions on the English Embankment during the white nights in St. Petersburg.

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