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Saudi Arabia’s vast desert along the Red Sea coast is one step closer to being hailed as one of the world’s paradises.
With negligible light pollution, the 28,000 square kilometre area in the northwestern part of the kingdom is expected to become the second largest dark sky reserve on Earth.
Surrounded by sand dunes and pristine waters, it’s one of the most unspoiled places on Earth, according to the Gulf-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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Andrew Bates, deputy director of Red Sea Global Lights, told reporters: “When people who have never really seen the night sky before visit our site, it’s amazing to see them see the stars for the first time. It’s really special.”
If approved, it would become the second-largest Dark Sky Preserve after Big Bend in Texas, at 38,850 square kilometers.
According to The National, Saudi Arabia’s bid is progressing steadily following a visit by the CEO of nonprofit DarkSky International.
“We are working closely with DarkSky International, but there has never been a category of this scale before. Usually dark sky certificates are awarded to national parks and smaller areas, so we don’t really have anything to compare it to as we continue to scale,” Bates said.
More than 80 percent of people live in areas where the night sky is light polluted, according to the World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness, with the city-state of Singapore said to be the worst place for stargazing.
“People don’t realize how many stars you can see in very dark environments,” Bates said. “It’s a beautiful idea that people can come here and reunite with stars that most people don’t see in their daily lives.”
Currently, there are 22 dark sky reserves in the world.
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