Why is there minimal sunlight in Alaska during the winter months?

Question by TS: Why is there minimal sunlight in Alaska during the winter months?
What EXACTLY happens to cause this? Is unique to Alaska? What other habitable places does this? Exactly how many hours/days of sunlight do Alaska get during the winter?

Best answer:

Answer by Roger S
The earth’s axis of rotation is tilted. In the summer it is pointing towards the sun and northern regions have very long days. In the winter it is on the exact opposite side of the sun and now tilts away. This causes long nights. The same thing happens in the southern polar regions, but in exactly the opposite order. Christmas comes in the middle of summer in Australia.

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