Wood Buffalo park now world’s largest dark sky preserve

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada designated Wood Buffalo National Park as Canada's newest and the world's largest Dark Sky Preserve on Friday.

Wood Buffalo National Park straddles the N.W.T./Alberta border near Fort Smith, N.W.T.

Previously, the world’s largest dark sky preserve was Alberta’s Jasper National Park.

According to Parks Canada, the designation will help preserve nighttime ecology for the park’s large populations of bats, night hawks and owls, as well as providing opportunities for visitors to experience the Northern lights.

The park will celebrate with a Dark Sky Festival Aug. 23-25 featuring camping, astronomical presentations, a planetarium experience, and night sky viewing opportunities.