The universal rising and setting sun at equinox: some global hotspots
This list is far from exhaustive; local knowledge will know of (or work out with map and compass) equinoctial photo hotspots…
… and if a flat horizon isn’t available, but your shot adds to the story – go for it!
Photos can be taken on modern smartphones, but a zoom camera will capture the best images, especially if the viewpoint is high on a headland, building, upper deck, etc…
To check timezone approximated (≠ 30 mins of solar or sundial) times of sunrise and sunset Google the information for a nearby city on the same line of longitude to your location or use this website:
UK east-facing coast Dover, Flamborough Head, Aberdeen, John O’Groats (Duncansby Head)
Ireland Dublin, France, Spain Barcelona, Valencia, Gibraltar
AFRICA
Tunisia, Egypt, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, South Africa Durban
AMERICAS
North: Canada Toronto US Boston, Miami, Milwaukee, Chicago
Central, Caribbean: Mexico Cancun
South America: Guyana, Brazil Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Uraguay Montevideo, Argentina Buenos Aires
Sunset due West flat horizon 6pm solar time
OCEANIA
Pacific Islands Honolulu, New Zealand, Australia Perth, Adelaide
ASIA
Japan Nagasaki bay, China Hong Kong
SE Asia: Philippines Manila, Singapore
S Asia: Bangladesh Chittagong India Mumbai, Goa Pakistan Karachi, Sri Lanka Colombo, Galle
Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia Jeddah, Gaza, Israel Tel Aviv, Lebanon Beirut
EUROPE
Greece, Croatia Dubrovnik, Italy Trieste, Bay of Naples, Norway, Sweden Gothenburg, Denmark, Netherlands The Hague
UK west-facing coast Land’s End, Gower, Blackpool, Iona
Ireland, France Le Havre, Marseille, Biarritz, Spain Vigo, Cadiz, Portugal Porto, Lisbon (Cascais), Iceland Reykjavik
AFRICA
Morocco Casablanca, Senegal Dakar, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gabon, Angola, Namibia, South Africa Cape Town
AMERICAS
North: Canada Vancouver, US San Francisco, Los Angeles
Central America, Caribbean: Barbados Bridgetown, Mexico
South America: Colombia Cartagena, Ecuador, Peru Lima, Chile
Appendix 1: inland lakes and plains with both sunrise and sunset available
Uganda: Lake Victoria USA Great Lakes,Utah: Great Salt Lake
The plains of East Africa, central Canada & USA, eastern Europe and Russia could produce images of semi-circular setting suns on a flat horizon
Bonus images: from within the Arctic Circle. Double Bonus: fromAntarctica
Appendix 2: Headlands and islands with both sunrise and sunset available
Ecuador Galapagos Islands, Greece Rodos Town, Shetland Sumburgh head, NW Scotland Cape Wrath, SW Scotland Mull of Galloway, S England Isle of Wight (Bembridge-Needles), The Lizard, Portland Bill, Portugal Sagres, S Africa Cape Town (Cape of Good Hope), Mexico Baja California (S tip)
and don’t forget shipping: ferries, cruise liners, yachts could provide an excellent opportunity.
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