Jasper National Park, Canada

Jasper National Park claims the title of the world's largest dark sky preserve, spanning 11,228 square kilometres of pristine Canadian Rockies wilderness. Its remote location and stringent lighting controls keep artificial glow to a minimum, enabling unaided views of the aurora borealis on roughly 240 nights per year. The park's annual Dark Sky Festival draws thousands of astronomers, outperforming #6's local events in attendance and scope. With a Bortle class of 2 on clear nights, it is darker than the average preserve, and its winter skies offer 14 hours of true darkness, far exceeding the typical temperate-location window. Photographers consistently capture sharp star trails here thanks to the absence of haze and moisture prevalent in coastal reserves, making Jasper a top-tier choice for both casual viewers and serious astrophotographers.