Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park named the best place for stargazing
A Canadian national park is the best place in the world for stargazing, says a new report.
Travel agency Inghams released the report on Tuesday, finding that Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, situated on the Canada-U.S. border in Waterton Lakes National Park and Montana's Glacier National Park, was the top spot among 122 locations around the world.
Using global search data, Google reviews and AllTrails scores, the park was the only Canadian location in the top 15 sites of the list.
- Sign up for breaking news alerts from CTV News, right at your fingertips
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
"With its snow-capped mountains, glaciers and stunning rugged rock formations, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is a beautiful place to explore during daylight hours, as well as when the sun goes down," Inghams wrote in a news release.
Waterton was granted dark sky status in 2017 due to its efforts to protect and conserve its dark skies.
That was due to Parks Canada's promotion of responsible night-time lighting, which also improves the environment for nocturnal wildlife.
"Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park tops the index of Best Starry Night Experiences with an impressive 4.9 stars on Google Business, and an AllTrails score of 4.8," officials said.
"Coupled with the fact that it remains fairly unknown in terms of Google search volumes, this dark sky park offers a peaceful and unforgettable stargazing adventure."
Parks Canada says it's "thrilled" that Waterton received the recognition.
"This accolade is a testament to the pristine skies and unspoiled natural beauty of the area, which Parks Canada is committed to protecting," officials said in statement.
"The park's unique geographical features create an unparalleled backdrop for astronomical observation, allowing both amateur stargazers and seasoned astronomers to explore the wonders of the universe."
There are 13 other dark sky preserves in the Parks Canada system and officials say each one offers "unique celestial spectacles and pristine night skies."
Further details on Parks Canada's other dark sky preserves can be found online.
Inghams' Top 20 World Parks for the Best Starry Night Experience
- Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Canada;
- Yeongyang Firefly Eco Park, South Korea;
- Ainos National Park, Greece;
- Mayland Earth to Sky Park & Bare Dark Sky Observatory, USA;
- UbarU Camp and Retreat Center, USA;
- Pickett CCC Memorial State Park & Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area, USA;
- Hehuan Mountain, Taiwan;
- De Borschplaat, Netherlands;
- Elan Valley Estate, Wales;
- Naturpark Attersee-Traunsee, Austria;
- OM Dark Sky Park & Observatory, Northern Ireland;
- North Fork Park, USA;
- Flagstaff Area National Monuments, USA;
- Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, USA; and
- Oxford Forest Conservation Area, New Zealand.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian family stuck in Lebanon anxiously awaits flight options amid Israeli strikes
A Canadian man who is trapped in Lebanon with his family says they are anxiously waiting for seats on a flight out of the country, as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes continues.
Yazidi woman captured by ISIS rescued in Gaza after more than a decade in captivity
A 21-year-old Yazidi woman has been rescued from Gaza where she had been held captive by Hamas for years after being trafficked by ISIS.
Scientists looked at images from space to see how fast Antarctica is turning green. Here's what they found
Parts of icy Antarctica are turning green with plant life at an alarming rate as the region is gripped by extreme heat events, according to new research, sparking concerns about the changing landscape on this vast continent.
Suspect in shooting of Toronto cop was out on bail
A 21-year-old man who was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a Toronto police officer this week was out on bail at the time of the alleged offence, court documents obtained by CTV News Toronto show.
A 6-year-old girl was kidnapped in Arkansas in 1995. Almost 30 years later, a suspect was identified
Nearly 30 years after a six-year-old girl disappeared in Western Arkansas, authorities have identified a suspect in her abduction through DNA evidence.
A Michigan man is charged with killing and dismembering a janitor he met on the Grindr dating app
Prosecutors have charged a Michigan man with killing and dismembering a janitor he met on the dating app Grindr.
NEW Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Haitian gang kills at least 70 people, including 3 infants, UN says
Armed men belonging to the Gran Grif gang killed at least 70 people, including three infants, as they swept through a Haitian town shooting automatic rifles at residents, a spokesperson for the United Nations' Human Rights Office said on Friday.
WATCH LIVE 2 dead after fire rips through historic building in Old Montreal
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building near Montreal's City Hall, sources told Noovo Info.