69th parallel north explained

The 69th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 69 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane, in the Arctic. It crosses the Atlantic Ocean, Europe, Asia and North America, and passes through some of the southern seas of the Arctic Ocean.

At this latitude the midnight sun lasts from May 20 to July 22 and polar night from December 1 to January 12.

If the latitude in northern hemisphere is 69°48′ or smaller, every day in September can view both nautical dawn and dusk. Also, if the latitude in northern hemisphere is 69°10′ or smaller, every day in April can view both civil dawn and dusk.

Around the world

Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the parallel 69° north passes through:

Co-ordinatesCountry, territory or seaNotes
Atlantic OceanNorwegian Sea
Islands of Langøya, Andøya, Bjarkøya and Dyrøya, and the mainland Troms
Norrbotten County (Lapland province)
Passing 6.7 km south of the tripoint between Finland, Norway and Sweden
Lapland
Troms
Lapland
Kola Peninsula, Murmansk Oblast
Passing 5.8 km south of the tripoint between Finland, Norway and Russia
Passing northern parts of Murmansk
Arctic OceanBarents Sea
Island of Kolguyev, Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Arctic OceanPechora Sea, Barents Sea
Yugorsky Peninsula, Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Arctic OceanBaydaratskaya Bay, Kara Sea
Yamal Peninsula, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Arctic OceanGulf of Ob, Kara Sea
Arctic OceanTaz Estuary, Kara Sea
Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Krasnoyarsk Krai
Yakutia
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
Arctic Ocean Chaunskaya Bay, East Siberian Sea
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
Arctic OceanChukchi Sea
Alaska
Yukon
Arctic SeaMackenzie Bay, Beaufort Sea
Mackenzie River delta and mainland Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Arctic SeaDolphin and Union Strait
(unnamed peninsula) Nunavut
Arctic SeaDolphin and Union Strait
Victoria Island, Nunavut
Arctic SeaDease Strait
Victoria Island (Canada)Victoria Island, Nunavut
Arctic SeaVictoria Strait
Royal Geographical Society Islands, Nunavut
Arctic SeaAlexandra Strait
King William Island, Nunavut
Arctic SeaRae Strait
(unnamed peninsula) Nunavut
Arctic SeaPelly Bay, Gulf of Boothia
(unnamed islands) Nunavut
Arctic SeaGulf of Boothia
Simpson Peninsula, Nunavut
Arctic SeaCommittee Bay, Gulf of Boothia
Islands off coast and mainland Melville Peninsula, Nunavut
Arctic SeaFoxe Basin
Rowley Island, Nunavut
Arctic SeaFoxe Basin
Baffin Island, Nunavut
Arctic SeaDavis Strait
Avannaata
Sermersooq
Atlantic OceanGreenland Sea
Norwegian Sea

Notable cities and towns on 69°N

See also