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It’spitchblack.
You can’t see your hand in front of your face or your feet beneath you. Butwhen you lookup you can
seemillions of stars, planets and galaxies lit up against the black sky—a celestial light show that’s invisible in the city.
TheTorranceBarrensDark-SkyPreservegives everyone the chance to experience the splendour of thenight sky.There areno
streetlights, house lights, floodlights or bright signs—simply a 360-degree dome of stars. Located about two hours north of
Torontooutsideof the small townofBala, thebarrens landscape,distinct from the surroundingMuskokaLakes, isdominated
by Precambrian rock andpepperedwith stuntedpine and linear troughs of wetlands andbogs.With this unique geography
comes unique flora and fauna. Andmore stars than you’ve ever seen.
A popular spot for astronomers and stargazers, the OntarioMinistry of Natural Resources (MNR) created the Torrance
BarrensDark-SkyPreserve in1997, one of the first reserves of its kind in theworld.
“It is also a regulated Conservation Reserve, which is like a wanna-be provincial park,” says retired MNR biologist Jan
McDonnell. Shehelped found the1,990-hectareparcel ofCrown landalongwithadedicatedgrassroots teamof astronomers,
local conservationists andbiologists. “ConservationReserveswere created toprotect areas frommining, hydrodevelopment,
and logging, but you can still hunt there.”
ThePreserve is easily accessible by car and the hard, flat(ish) granite surface is ideal for tripods and telescopes. Its remoteness
andvast, unobstructedhorizons provide theperfect conditions for stargazing in all seasons.Theparking lot can fill upduring
major sky events likemid-August’s Perseidmeteor shower or coldnights when the brilliant greens of northernnights splash
the sky. But typically, you find yourself alonewith the stars here.
Light pollution is most often associatedwith urban spaces, but is also an issue in
cottage country.
