Where in the world is the best place to stargaze: top unforgettable locations

The radiance of the starry sky always impresses with its majesty, but in the modern world, it is increasingly difficult to find places where this view of the sky is not obscured by light pollution. That is why preserving the natural beauty of the night sky has become an important issue for many countries.

In April, the world celebrates the International Dark Sky Week, designed to draw attention to the problem of artificial lighting. In honor of this event, Valerie Stimack, author of the book "Stargazing Around the World," has proposed a list of the best places to watch the stars, Lonely Planet reports.

Among the proposed locations are both well-known tourist centers and remote corners of the planet, which impress with their clear skies and unforgettable landscapes. These places inspire not only with their natural beauty but also with the opportunity to look into the vast expanse of space.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

The world's largest salt marsh, the Salar de Uyuni, located high in the Andes, offers a unique stargazing experience. During the rainy season, when the surface is covered with a thin layer of water, it turns into a huge mirror that reflects the sky, creating the illusion of infinity. Stimac recommends visiting Salar de Uyuni with a tour operator due to the complex logistics and organization.

Southwest of the United States: Utah and Arizona

The region of the southwestern United States, encompassing the states of Utah and Arizona, is famous for its highest concentration of dark sky sites. It is home to numerous national parks recognized as international dark sky reserves, such as Utah's Mighty Five National Parks and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The huge geological formations of these places create spectacular views both day and night under the starry sky.

Mont-Megantic, Canada

The Mont-Mégantic Reserve in Quebec was the world's first dark sky reserve. It covers a large area, including Mont-Mégantic National Park and the Mont-Mégantic Observatory, home to the second-largest telescope in Eastern Canada. The park offers opportunities for camping and stargazing, and the observatory hosts daytime tours and nighttime astronomy events.

NamibRand in Namibia

The Namib Desert, with its low population density and lack of light pollution, is an ideal place for stargazing. The NamibRand Nature Reserve, certified as a Dark Sky Reserve, covers more than 215,000 hectares of desert and savannah. Strict lighting regulations apply here to preserve the darkness of the night sky.

Mount Bromo, Indonesia

Mount Bromo, located in East Java, is known for its spectacular sunrises, but it is also a great place for stargazing. Situated near the equator, Mount Bromo offers great views of the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Magellanic Clouds. Stargazing here is mostly a self-guided activity, the best time is early morning to combine stargazing with sunrise.

Aoraki Mackenzie, New Zealand

New Zealand, with its rich history of Maori astronomical knowledge, is a great place for stargazing. The Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, located on the South Island, offers some of the best conditions for this. The Mount John Observatory offers guided tours and telescope observations.

Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

The Wild Atlantic Way on Ireland's west coast is becoming an increasingly popular stargazing destination thanks to local communities' efforts to preserve dark skies. The Kerry Dark Sky Reserve and the Wild Nephin National Park offer excellent conditions for viewing the night sky, although the possibility of cloudy weather should be taken into account.

Wadi Rum, Jordan

The Wadi Rum Desert, known as the "Valley of the Moon," with its striking red cliffs, is another great place for stargazing. The absence of light pollution allows you to enjoy the night sky, which reminds us of how our ancestors saw it.

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