Kyritz-Ruppiner Heath becomes the tenth International Dark Sky Place in Germany

Temnitzquell, Germany 

The Kyritz-Ruppiner Heide has now been certified as an International Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International. The former military training area (Bombodrom) is one of the darkest places in Germany, covering approximately 12,000 hectares without any artificial lighting. The shared goal of regional stakeholders is to preserve this condition permanently in order to protect the night sky. Designating the area as a star park is an important step toward achieving this goal.

Ralf Reinhardt, District Administrator of Ostprignitz-Ruppin, said:

“The recognition of the Kyritz-Ruppiner Heide as an official star park by DarkSky International is a great success, and I would like to congratulate everyone who was involved in making it happen. The heathland in the heart of our district is not only a place with unique flora and fauna; the particularly dark night sky here also makes it possible to experience the fascinating world of sky observation, for example during star tours. I would like to express my special thanks to the Stechlin-Ruppiner Land Nature Park and the members of the Kyritz-Ruppiner Heide Municipal Working Group for their committed and constructive participation in the application process. The future star park in the Kyritz-Ruppiner Heide will be a unique feature in our home region, opening up new perspectives in the tourism sector that will need to be further developed in the coming years.”

Dr. Mario Schrumpf, Director of the Stechlin-Ruppiner Land Nature Park, added:

“The designation of the Kyritz-Ruppiner Heide as a star park is an important step toward protecting the night in our nature park. Both the people in the region and the flora and fauna will benefit from this. I would like to thank the district of Ostprignitz-Ruppin for its initiative in designating the star park, as well as Dr. Andreas Hänel and our colleagues at the Westhavelland Nature and Star Park for their expert support of our efforts.”

Since 2012, most of the former Soviet bombing range has been protected under European law as a Fauna-Flora Habitat (FFH area) within the Natura 2000 network. In 2021, the area was incorporated into the Stechlin-Ruppiner Land Nature Park, one of Brandenburg’s 15 natural landscapes. The Kyritz-Ruppiner Heide is the second-largest contiguous heathland area in Germany. Because the area is uninhabited, there is no artificial light, resulting in an exceptionally dark night sky.

To preserve this unique characteristic as one of the darkest places in Germany, the Kyritz-Ruppiner Heide Municipal Working Group (KAG) decided in 2022 to apply for designation of the approximately 12,000-hectare area as a star park.

Dan Oakley, Policy and Destination Senior Manager at DarkSky International, said:

“It is great to certify the Kyritz-Ruppiner Heide as a Dark Sky Park and reward the local residents for their work and commitment. They seized the moment to protect this interesting and important natural area, and really showed the commitment of residents to the process. This area will no doubt be of great benefit and be an exceptional resource to the wider communities that surround it.”

Founded on March 11, 2010, the Kyritz-Ruppiner Heide Municipal Working Group includes the district of Ostprignitz-Ruppin, the municipalities of Neuruppin, Rheinsberg, Wittstock (Dosse), Amt Temnitz, the Federal Agency for Real Estate Tasks, the Heinz Sielmann Foundation, and the Stechlin-Ruppiner Land Nature Park.

In November 2023, the district of Ostprignitz-Ruppin officially registered as an applicant for certification with DarkSky International. This was preceded by a preliminary inquiry in July to determine whether the Kyritz-Ruppiner Heide was fundamentally suitable for designation. DarkSky International responded positively and encouraged continued efforts to counter threats from light pollution.

The district has commissioned the development of lighting guidelines for surrounding towns, including Flecken Zechlin, Zempow, Schweinrich, Gadow, Zootzen, Fretzdorf, Rossow, Rägelin, Pfalzheim, Frankendorf, Neuglienicke, and Basdorf. Artificial light sources in these villages were documented by experts, and recommendations for optimization were presented to municipalities in 2024. Subsequent discussions clarified outstanding questions and explored initial improvements.

There is not a single light within the 12,000-hectare Kyritz-Ruppiner Heide area, and there is broad agreement that this should remain the case.

The Kyritz-Ruppiner Heide Star Park will help unlock the potential of astro-tourism as part of nature-based tourism development in rural areas. A feasibility study commissioned by the district outlines a range of proposals. With support from European funding and in cooperation with the Westhavelland Nature and Star Park, observation sites will be established and infrastructure developed, including viewing platforms, observation loungers, polar star finders, and information boards.

Star tours, themed hikes, lectures, and other programs will be offered regularly. In addition, star guides will be trained, and certified nature and landscape guides will expand their programs to include topics related to darkness and light pollution.

About the International Dark Sky Places Program: 

Founded in 2001, the International Dark Sky Places Program is a non-regulatory, voluntary program that encourages communities, parks, and protected areas worldwide to preserve and protect dark sites through effective lighting policies, environmentally responsible outdoor lighting, and public education. When used indiscriminately, artificial light can disrupt ecosystems, impact human health, waste money and energy, contribute to climate change, and block our view and connection to the universe. Kyritz-Ruppiner Heide now joins more than 255 Places that have demonstrated robust community support for dark sky advocacy and strive to protect the night from light pollution. Learn more by visiting https://darksky.org/what-we-do/international-dark-sky-places/.

About DarkSky International: 

The mission of DarkSky is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. Learn more at darksky.org

Contacts

Olaf Wolff
Landkreis Ostprignitz-Ruppin Team Kreisentwicklung und Mobilität
+49 33082 40718
[email protected] 

Victoria Juraschek
Landkreis Ostprignitz-Ruppin Team Kreisentwicklung und Mobilität
+49 3391 6661120)
[email protected]

Dan Oakley
Policy and Destination Senior Manager, DarkSky International
+44 780 357 0818
[email protected]