AMC Land in 100 Mile Wilderness designated first international dark sky park

[peakbagger]

https://www.mainepublic.org/environ...ew-englands-first-international-dark-sky-park

Note that the headlines does not really reflect the actual location. The 100MW is a lot larger than the AMCs landholdings, there are numerous large landholders. There is no currently park designation. AMC had effectively limited development of the vast majority of the land they bought from Plum Creek already by sales of conservation and development easements. So it comes down to its good PR tool for AMC to hopefully get more use of their facilities. The problem with the vast majority of the 100MW is that the AT is a green tunnel with the exception of a few open summits. With the exception of the Antlers campsite on Lower Jo Mary lake, the average hiker does not get a great open view of the sky at night unless they violate the MATC rules for camping only at designated campsites. AMCs facilities are on water bodies so they do have the sky view.

 

[TEO]

That MPR piece closes with, "An event celebrating Maine's dark skies is already being planned for the fall."

Will the celebration include fireworks?

 

[TJ aka Teej]

Katahdin Woods and Waters NM was designated a Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2020.

 

[NHClimber]

That MPR piece closes with, "An event celebrating Maine's dark skies is already being planned for the fall."

Will the celebration include fireworks?

Ha ha. Guess I won’t bring the ‘scope.