Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island) is known for its ancient monastery and celebrated for its wildlife, but now it has another protected natural resource: the night sky.<\/p>\n
The island has officially been recognised as a protected Dark Sky Sanctuary, meaning its unspoiled view of the night sky is protected for current and future generations.<\/p>\n
- Best places to stargaze in Wales<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Star trails over Barsey Lighthours, Ynys Enlli, Wales. Credit: Steve Porter<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n The International Dark Sky Association is the leading body providing certification of areas around the world where views of the cosmos are protected from light pollution<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The IDA has certified numerous regions across the UK and Ireland, including the Brecon Beacons<\/a>, Elan Valley<\/a> and Snowdonia in Wales.<\/p>\n
Now Wales can add Ynys Enlli to its list of protected dark-sky sites.\u00a0As a Dark-Sky Sanctuary, the island joins just 16 other sites worldwide.<\/p>\n
Wales has some of the darkest skies of any region in the world and is one of the best places to avoid light pollution, which is the name given to the obscuring glow generated by artificial lighting.<\/p>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>A starry scene above Ynys Enlli, Bardsey Island, Wales. Credit: Steve Porter<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Ynys Enlli is located two miles from the Ll\u0177n Peninsula, off the coast of north Wales.<\/p>\n
The island\u2019s mountainous terrain acts like a natural barrier to light pollution from mainland UK, with the closest source of major light pollution being Dublin, some 70 miles across the Irish Sea.<\/p>\n
This new Dark Sky Sanctuary designation is the culmination of a 4-year campaign to introduce measures that have enabled the IDA to officially certify it as such.<\/p>\n
Measures included a plan for future decisions regarding the installation of artificial lighting on the island and a community outreach programme to raise awareness about the effect of light pollution on our view of the night sky.<\/p>\n
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