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Sara Sami remembers for the first time that she really saw the stars.
38-year-old Bahrain photographer and travel guide was scouting at one place for one of his visiting journey in Saudi Arabia-a huge rock, ignoring a huge desert, named “Age of the World ” Is.
Recalling Sami, he said, “We had a blanket of stars on us.” “You could see thousands of them, as they were endless. it was beautiful.”
Since then, Saudi Arabia has become its favorite place for Stargaging. Sami has participated in the state desert dozens of times from his home in Bahrain, connected to Saudi Arabia, an island state in the Persian Gulf, which is connected to 24 km-Lumb (15-mile). Camping under the stars, away from Sami cities and cities, looks for places with undivided darkness, where she can see the milky way.
“I was able to find a place that is only four hours away from Bahrain, it is literally in the middle of a desert: there is a abandoned village with broken houses. It is scary, but has the most beautiful sky, ”she says.
Sami is not the only one who has focused the sky with the wires of the country. In November last year, Alula Manara and Algharemail nature’s reserves, near the ancient Oasis city of Alula, were earlier named Dark Sky Park by Darkski International in the Middle East, a non-profit that is against light pollution Advocates Saudi Arabia joined only 21 other countries List of Dark Sky locations certified with the US, New Zealand and Germany tops the list.
Gary Fields, senior manager of Alula Manara’s observatory, says Gary Fields, senior manager of Alula Minara’s Observatory, says, “Alula’s night skyse has always left visitors. ,
The commitment of 2,334 square kilometers (901-class-mile) reserve for the preservation of night sky involves careful lighting designs, such as ensuring that the lights contain colors that direct the light rather than above.
Observatory is currently drawing to an outdoor lighting guide New and existing development within the Alula County, Fields told CNN in an email – which they hope that “the residents and visitors are always able to see the night sky over Alula in all their natural beauty for the coming years. Will do. ”
Astroturism has been a growing niche in a sustainable trip for many years – and with a huge economic awards. In the US, the National Park Seva found that astronomically brain visitors are bringing billions of dollars, and there is a possibility of spending money on lodging, food and equipment overnight. Other countries including India and Australia have also seen a boom among the Nuttonal tourists in the last one year, especially around astronomical events such as solar eclipse.
Darksky International has five categories that recognize areas with limited light pollution and active dark conservation policies.
Dan Okle, president of the Dark Sky Place Committee for Darkski International, says, “There are places that are going to be quite different from large communities, but this is a place where you will see Milky Way very clearly.”
Places like Alula have developed many astrotorism activities such as the directed Stargaging excursion. Beyond the re -connecting nature or learning about astronomical phenomena, these activities can present the regional “Starlore:” cultural mythology around the night sky.
History with Saudi Arabian stars can be detected in the ancient nominee tribes, which lived in the Arabian Peninsula, who used stars as both practical equipment for navigation and divine symbols, which Filmeds used to combine with cosmic events.
For him, Venus-which appeared as the brightest star in the sky-was associated with a powerful goddess al-uja, while the Sun was associated with the enemy, a revered deity, he said, “High rock of high rock in Alula The exclusion “has served as holy sites for astronomical worship. ,
“The night sky heritage and folklore are integral for” how our communities and societies have developed “,” says Okle.
“People can stand under a wiring sky, see above, and have the same experience that their ancestors did 10,000 years ago,” they say, “we meet our many stories and folklore In the same way we connect with the sky, as part of our heritage. ”
Alula Manara and Algharemail Nature Store are the beginning of Astroturism ambitions of Saudi Arabia, a plan to create a current-development Red Sea destination, which is the size of Belgian, the largest nominated Dark Sky Reserve Belgian of the Middle East.
The project developers, Red Sea Global, “are working with light experts on innovative designs, which ticks all boxes for good light pollution conservation,” says Okle.
“Protecting natural darkness is important for both people and planets,” an email, Associate Director of Red Sea Global, in an email. The resort is implementing solutions such as preservation of light sources and making a goal of light fixtures at the bottom, as well as using warm light colors, and smart control systems, which will integrate with renewable energy of development, Bats It is said that the first resort of Red Sea Destination, Six Sense Southern Tibba, has already acquired dark sky compliance.
Like Alula, the Red Sea Destination Islamic is bending in the Astronomy traditions, Ahmed Althar, Astronology Leading for Akun, Adventure Activity Company of Red C Global: “During the Haj season, we highlighted how maize and how maize and Astronomical items were used for navigation for time. Consumption. Other experiences on our destination focus on the moon stages and Hijri calendars (an Islamic lunar calendar). ,
Of course, there is an underlying contradiction in astroturism, as an increase in tourism means more people, who can often lead to more light pollution. One of the most visible results of light pollution – due to everyday light sources such as street lamps, electronic advertising, and floodlights in the sports ground – is “Sky Glow”, which is the stars for about 80% of the world’s population. Dark Sky International according to obscure, according to.
Okle says that increasing interest in astroturism is reflected in applications that receive dark sky International, where tourism is a “major driver” for many places seeking a designation.
He said, “There is nothing wrong in this, but we should just know that they are quite different from other applicants” who may have more astronomical or conservation interest in dark sky protection.
However, inspirations on the one hand, a more dutiful approach for the conservation of the night sky and light design has a positive effect beyond tourism: light pollution negatively affects wildlife and ecosystems, which interrupted the darkness affected by darkness Does, affects, affects. Bird migration, sea turtle hatching, and Prew hunters. Red C Global plans to captivate the number on a million visitors, in addition to implementing the initiative of stability in various resorts, in a bid to prevent overturism and reduce the impact of human activity.
As Saudi Arabia develops its tourism sector, it is happy to see Okle embedding dark sky lighting practices in designs – although with the lowest population density in the world with a square kilometer (5.8 per mile) per square kilometer (5.8 per square mile) One, the country is already in the country in the country. There is a significant advantage in limiting light pollution.
This is one of the reasons why Sara Sami continues to visit. Even beyond the designated nature reserves, it is easy to find an off-the-grid spot without any light, she says.
“Most of the Saudi regions, you could find the sky of the night there. They have all the beautiful miracles, they are in the desert, so you find both the best of the world: beautiful nature and a great night sky. ,
