The night of the earth is drowning in light.
There are only three small spots in Finland that are completely free of artificial light. More than 70% of Finns do not see the Milky Way in their place of residence because it is covered by artificial light. Almost everyone else’s night sky has brightened by at least ten percent. Artificial light increases by three to six percent annually, which results in at least doubling the amount of light in 27 years.
The idea of a star park and a dark sky center arose through my star photography hobby and my own experiences. I noticed that Syrjävaara is located in a special place, outside the light pollution areas of large cities, on the top of the hill, with a direct light pollution-free view of the aurora oval. There is also no wasted light in the village area so the sky in the area is still quite clear.
As a child, I watched the lonely red light seen in the dark skyline. My grandfather said it was a warning light for the Vuonos mine tower. Today, everywhere on the horizon, except the north, reflects the lights of villages and cities. Until twenty years ago, as frost, the Milky Way sparkled in shades of red and blue. Now the colors are dimmed. The protection of the night and night sky is in a hurry!
Dark philosophy, manifesto
Night in all its forms is both an important experience and a biological necessity. Excessive lighting at night destroys this necessity. All life on Earth’s surface has evolved in the natural alternation of night and day. It controls the functions of organisms. Over the course of billions of years, it has been coded deep into the genetics of organisms. It is a central part of the basis of biological life. When night is changed, the basis of the biological functions of all organisms is directly affected.
There is a lot of researched information about the adverse effects of excessive light. On this basis, the protection of the natural night means the protection of all earthly life and man. You can’t build reserves and protected areas for all life to minimize the harmful effects of excessive and incorrect artificial light. The earth itself is the only reserve of life. Therefore, the natural night and life itself must be protected everywhere.
We usually talk about protecting the dark. Its starting point is a vision that means an astronomical starry night without light pollution. However, this kind of protection of the starry sky is only part of the protection of the dark. In the Nordic countries, however, the night can be dark and full of stars only half of the year: between the autumn and spring equinoxes in winter. Here, protecting the astronomical night is a part-time activity. Still, in other seasons and in other conditions, it is night – natural night. It can be the “nightless night” of summer, when the Sun does not set. It can be a night illuminated by the glittering hanks and northern lights of winter. It can be pitch black in autumn darkened by clouds, where you can’t see the ground under your feet or even your own hand, even though your eyes have adapted to the dark.
When the goal is to protect the night, a balance must be found between different attributes. It cannot be the case that for half the year the night is not protected, or is not considered worth protecting. Nor can it be the case that protecting the night is only a matter for the middle latitudes. Protection must touch our entire planet. The special features of the night in northern latitudes in all seasons must be recognized and taken into account when protecting our own northern night. At the same time, the special features of nature, lifestyle and nature conservation in the northern regions must be taken into account. To evaluate the northern night and its multidimensionality, a suitable yardstick must be found that takes into account not only humans but also other organisms. This is inevitably in everyone’s interest.
How we act in Syrjävaara
Syrjävaara wants to preserve a natural night. It shares information and strives to enable night exploration and night enjoyment. The farm in Syrjävaara is a dark nature reserve. This means that the lights are used only as needed and with care:
- All lighting is limited to where it is needed.
- It does not illuminate the surrounding nature, the sky, or dazzle.
- There are no outdoor lighting. Only portable lights are used outside.
- The light has a warm color. The color temperature is 3000 Kelvin at most.
In Syrjävaara the clouds are not illuminated. The starry sky is visible between them.
How is the dark protected?
The night is destroyed by artificial light spreading in the wrong place and at the wrong time. Much of it comes from public lighting but private lighting comes as a good second. This is often due to poor design and thoughtless use of light. We illuminate our forests and the sky of the whole country unintentionally and completely in vain. Much of the light we use goes to waste.
We think it doesn’t matter, but yes it does and a lot: It damages the helth humans and all of nature, destroys the nocturnal nature and our connection to the universe. It also requires a great deal of energy and money. We protect ourselves and the night best by making sure that the light is focused only where it is needed and when it is needed. It’s not even difficult.
Man and nature need nights. That is the lifeblood.