Scientifically there is a rather simple explanation for the phenomenon – namely, that during the weeks before and after the summer solstice, the North Pole tips toward the sun as the earth revolves on a tilted axis. During those weeks, sunsets are late, sunrises are early and darkness is never total in high-latitude areas.

The beauty of St. Petersburg’s boulevards, parks, canals and river banks, when blanketed by the magic of white nights, has long been a trademark of the city. Mere words do not do justice to the romanticism of white nights, though many Russian poets have expressed their feelings about them in verse. Among the most famous descriptions is this one from Anna Akhmatova:

“My white nights are whispering there
About somebody’s secret and sublime love,
Jasper and pearl shine everywhere
But weirdly is hidden the source of light.”

Love and romance are undoubtedly the main emotions expressed during white nights, and the city bustles with couples enjoying the sights and sounds of a city in twilight.

The exclusive architecture and historic heritage of St. Petersburg add a lot to the romanticism of white nights. So, too, does the raising off the bridges over the city’s waterways. They open at night to let watercraft pass through, and during white nights it is an awesome sight that attracts crowds of people.

St. Petersburg is not the only place to bathe in the beauty of white nights. Other cities in Russia and elsewhere at similar latitudes also enjoy it. St. Petersburg, however, stands out as the world’s northern-most metropolis, with more than 4.5 million people.

Anyone eager to see with their own eyes the white nights in St. Petersburg can do so from late May to early July.