Discover the summer island getting rid of time
One of the most common questions asked every day—a question that is likely being asked as you read this—is: What time is it? On one tiny island in northern Norway, they’re asking: Who cares? Sommarøy is an island in West Tromsø, around 321 km (200 miles) north of the Arctic Circle. Its name means Summer Island, which is appropriate since the island offers more than two months' worth of non-stop summer. A dream come true for anyone who has ever wished that those long summer days would last forever. Just in time for the summer solstice of 2019, this tiny island decided to make the lifestyle its residents have been living for years official by declaring itself the world’s first time-free zone. The idea didn't really go through, as the residents of Sommarøy didn't want to sign a law about something they already do. In fact, they all seem strangely relaxed about it, as if they have all the time in the world to figure it out... If you think about it, this island’s philosophy, born of extreme solar circumstances, may be the antidote we all need in a world where we wake up to clocks, are controlled by strict schedules, constantly check our phones to see the time, and ultimately move in synchronized motion to the relentless ticking towards our final days. Yikes! Check out this gallery to learn more about the island making time a thing of the past.
2024-06-03T13:17:50Z
