Wood Buffalo named world’s largest dark-sky preserve

The sky above Wood Buffalo National Park just became the largest dark sky in the world.

Wood Buffalo National Park, located along the AlbertaNorthwest Territories border 500 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, was officially declared a dark-sky preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) last week.

The protected area of the park spans more than 44,807 square kilometres, making it larger than all of the dark-sky sites in the world combined.

A dark-sky preserve is a designation given by the RASC to an area that is free from light pollution.

The designation comes with several requirements, including increasing public awareness of the effects of light pollution as well as stringent rules regarding illumination levels, extent and duration of any artificial lighting on-site.

The RASC says it is important to protect Canada’s dark skies, particularly because of the impact on the behaviour of wildlife and vitality of flora and fauna.

“Together with the RASC, Parks Canada Agency recognizes that natural darkness is an ecological resource in need or protection and both organizations are committed to lighting practices that preserve the beauty and wonder of the dark sky,” the RASC said in a statement.

Wood Buffalo National Park is the 17th dark sky preserve in Canada, and the third in Alberta.

Jasper National Park received the designation in 2011. The Beaver Hills area, a 300-square km region east of Edmonton, was officially designated in 2006.