The Dying of the Light Trivia Quiz

Rovaniemi is the capital of Finnish Lapland, home to about 65,000 people. Completely rebuilt after WWII, it is also known as the home town of Santa Claus, and is one of Finland's major tourist destinations. People flock there both in summer and winter, attracted by the pristine nature of the region, the opportunities for winter sports, and the Christmas-themed SantaPark. Though Rovaniemi does get plenty of snow in winter, the climate is not as cold as in places located at similar latitudes (66°30'N), such as parts of Siberia.

Rovaniemi lies about 6 km (4 mi) south of the Arctic Circle: because of that, it does not experience polar night as do settlements north of the Circle. In order to experience what Finns call "kaamos", you would need to head north to places such as Sodankylä or Inari, or to the larger cities of Tromsø in Norway, or Murmansk in Russia. In the month of December the sun barely gets above the horizon in Rovaniemi: in the days around the winter solstice (20-23 December), the sun rises at about 11 a.m., and sets before 1:30 p.m., allowing the city a whopping 2 hours and 15 minutes of daylight.

Though not the state capital, Anchorage is Alaska's largest city, with a population of almost 300,000, and a land area larger than the state of Rhode Island. It is located in the south-central part of the state, on a strip of coastal lowland with the majestic Chugach Mountains at its back. Anchorage's airport is one of the busiest in the world for cargo traffic; much of the city's economy depends on Alaska's natural resources, in particular oil.

At a latitude of 61°11'N, Anchorage lies slightly further north than major European cities such as Helsinki, Oslo and St. Petersburg. Its climate is moderated by its coastal location, and does not normally get extremely cold - though snowfall can be quite plentiful. While summer days are very long, in winter Anchorage sees less than 5.5 hours of daylight around the winter solstice; the lack of light is compounded by frequently overcast skies. In December, the sun rises around 10:15 a.m., and sets around 3:40 p.m.

Located on the islands of Zeeland and Amager, the Danish capital of Copenhagen is the southernmost of the Scandinavian capitals. It is connected to the Swedish city of Malmö by the Øresund Bridge, which spans the strait of the same name. A thriving, cosmopolitan city with high standards of living, Copenhagen is home to over two million people in its metro area.

With its coastal location, Copenhagen has a moderate oceanic climate, with average winter temperatures that rarely go below freezing point. Because of its northern latitude (55°41'N), there is considerable variation in the number of daylight hours in summer and winter. In December, the city enjoys an average 7 hours of daylight, with the sun rising after 8:30 a.m. and setting after 3:30 p.m, while around the summer solstice the sun stays up for about 17.5 hours.

The iconic UK capital of London is located on the River Thames, in south-east England, at a latitude of 51°30'N. A highly diverse, bustling metropolis, it is one of the world's most prominent cultural and financial centres. With a population of almost 15 million in its metropolitan area, it is one of Europe's largest cities, and a major tourist destination.

Known for its often wet weather, London has a temperate oceanic climate, with moderately warm summers and cool winters. During the month of December, daylight lasts around 8 hours, with the sun rising at about 8 a.m. and setting slightly before 4 p.m. As is the case with other cities at the same or slightly higher latitudes, the frequently cloudy skies intensify the shortness of the daylight hours.

Home to over four million people in its metro area, Montréal is Canada's second-largest city. Located in the southwestern part of Québec, Canada's largest province, the city - founded in 1642 with the name of Ville-Marie - lies on the Island of Montréal, at the confluence of the St Lawrence and Ottawa rivers. Montréal boasts a vibrant cultural life - strongly influenced by France - and high standards of living.

Though Canada is associated with long, snowy winters, Montréal lies considerably further south than Scandinavia - at the same latitude (45°30'N) as places like Venice, the Crimean Peninsula, and most of southern France. Its climate is typically continental, with summers that can get quite hot and humid, and windy, snowy winters with temperatures often well below freezing point, especially in January and February. Compared to north and northwestern Europe, however, Montréal gets more sunshine during the winter months. In December, the city enjoys less than 9 hours of daylight; the sun rises around 7:30 a.m., and sets around 4:15 p.m.

Lying on the spectacular gulf of the same name on the Tyrrhenian Sea, Naples is a bustling metropolis - one of Italy's largest cities, home to over four million people in its metro area. Renowned for its cuisine (which offers much more than just pizza), its stunning scenery, and outstanding cultural heritage, it is also one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean region. Mount Vesuvius, one of the world's most famous (or infamous) volcanoes, is located at the southern end of the Gulf of Naples.

With its Mediterranean climate, Naples is almost synonymous with sunshine and beautiful weather, which have attracted tourists and residents since ancient times. Though heavy rainfall is not uncommon in autumn and winter, temperatures are usually mild; summers can be quite hot, though mitigated by the sea. Located at a latitude of 40°51'N - almost the same as New York City and Madrid - Naples enjoys a bit over 9 hours of daylight in December, when the sun rises at about 7:20 am, and sets at about 4:30 p.m.

The Japanese capital of Tokyo is quite the record-breaker - being not only one of the world's most populous metropolitan areas, home to over 35 million people, but also the world's largest urban economy by GDP. Largely rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1923 and the equally devastating effects of WWII, Tokyo (formerly known as Edo) is a major hub for finance, transport, education and culture, and has also hosted a number of high-profile sports events.

Located on the central coast of the island of Honshu (the Japanese "mainland"), at the head of the bay of the same name, Tokyo lies at a latitude of 35°41'N - more southerly than Beijing or any European capital. Its humid subtropical climate means hot and humid summers; its mild to cool winters tend to be considerably drier than the other three seasons. In December, Tokyo averages almost 10 hours of daylight, with the sun rising around 6:40 a.m. and setting around 4:30 p.m.

Known for its futuristic architecture, lavish shopping malls and ultra-luxury hotels, Dubai is the largest city (though not the capital) of the United Arab Emirates, with a population of about 3.5 million. Grown from a small fishing village established in the 19th century, it is now a major trade, business and transport centre - as well as a popular tourist destination. Its very high standards of living attract people from all over the world: in fact, the vast majority of Dubai's population consists of people born outside the UAE.

Located in the northeastern part of the country, on the Persian Gulf coast, Dubai lies within the vast Arabian Desert, with a climate to match its location. While winters are mild and generally pleasant, summers are long - lasting almost half of the year - and extremely hot and humid, with temperatures often reaching record-busting highs. Hot winds and sandstorms are also common occurrences. Because of its latitude (25°16'N - just north of the Tropic of Cancer), Dubai enjoys about 10.5 hours of daylight in December, with the sun rising at around 7 a.m., and setting at around 5:30.

Built on the ruins of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan (founded in 1325), Mexico City is the oldest capital city in the Americas. Formerly known as Distrito Federal (Federal District), it is also the largest city in North America, with a population of over 20 million in its metropolitan area. This sprawling metropolis, home to many diverse ethnicities (including a sizable community of US expats), is a thriving economic hub and a major cultural centre. Plagued by serious issues of air pollution in the past, it has recently managed to lower its pollution to much more acceptable levels.

Mexico City sits south of the Tropic of Cancer, at a latitude of 19°25'N. Located at an elevation of 2,200 m (7,700 ft) above sea level, it has a subtropical highland climate with year-round moderate temperatures. Because of its location, Mexico City enjoys relatively long hours of daylight in December - nearly 11, with the sun rising at around 7 a.m. and setting at around 6 p.m.

The former capital of Nigeria, Lagos lies on the lagoon of the same name, separated from the Atlantic Ocean by barrier islands and sand spits. With an estimated population of 26 million in its greater metropolitan area, it is one of Africa's largest cities and seaports, and the continent's most important financial and cultural centre.

As you would expect from a city that lies at a latitude of 6°27'N, about 716 km (445 mi) north of the Equator, in Lagos there is barely any difference between summer and winter daylight hours - as there is little difference in temperature between the two seasons. The city has a tropical savanna climate with a dry and a wet season: though it lies in the Northern Hemisphere, the hottest temperatures and the lowest rainfall in Lagos are usually recorded in February and March. Lagos enjoys almost 12 hours of daylight in December, with sunrise occurring around 6:45 a.m., and sunset around 6:30 p.m. In June, there are about 12.5 hours of daylight.