FEATURED
"DARK SKY FRIEND" DESIGNATION
MONT-MÉGANTIC
INTERNATIONAL
DARK SKY
RESERVE
International
Dark Sky Reserve
CERTIFIED BY DARKSKY.ORG
The Reserve in short:
A WORLD FIRST!
Inaugurated in 2007, it is the very first International Dark Sky Reserve certified by DarkSky International and its creation laid the foundations for this type of certification.
5,167 SQUARE KM
Located in southern Quebec in the Eastern Townships region, the Dark Sky Reserve helps protect the wonderful nocturnal landscapes that surround Mont Mégantic.
33 CITIES AND TOWNS
Thanks to the collaboration of many municipalities, an entire region has a better access to the stars. Together, our actions are making a difference.
230,000 CITIZENS
By preserving the nighttime environment in a populated area, not only does the population have better access to the starry sky, but it also enjoys the benefits of better lighting. Sherbrooke is also the largest city in the world that is part of “dark sky” certification.
LIGHTING THE WAY
By reducing light pollution and using technologies that truly protect the night, the Mont-Mégantic International Dark Sky Reserve is positioning itself as an international leader.
THOUSANDS OF STARS
Whether at the top of Mont Mégantic, on a lakeside, or in the heart of a village, our window on the Universe is wide open!
OUR MISSION
The Mont-Mégantic International Dark Sky Reserve is there to preserve access to a truly dark sky experience and safeguard natural nocturnal environments, for now and for the future.
The dark sky protection project, undertaken by ASTROLab with the collaboration of Mont-Mégantic National Park, Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic, local communities, RCMs, and municipal, provincial and federal officials, has made it possible to adequately satisfy outdoor lighting needs while achieving considerable energy savings. Moreover, dark sky protection and nocturnal landscape valorization contribute to the area’s distinctiveness and international renown.
