A Sky Full of Stars in a Land Full of Olive Trees
Alqueva´s Dark Sky Reserve | Black & White | By Year; 2014 | Startrails
A short black and white startrail showing the earth rotation, above the land full of olive trees, captured in front of the Dark Sky Alqueva advertising outdoor, in Monsaraz. Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource.
The region of the Great Lake Alqueva in Alentejo, Portugal is a wonderful place to see the stars, constellations and distant galaxies such as the Milky Way. The unique characteristics of the night sky with a very low rate of light pollution, in the municipalities of Alandroal, Reguengos, Monsaraz, Mourão, Barrancos, Portel and Moura ensure the ideal conditions for an excellent observation of the dark sky. In Alqueva the sky has good atmospheric conditions for stargazing most of the year. Such skies are disappearing in Europe, where most of the population has no longer the privilege to observe an unpolluted sky.
Canon 60Da – ISO1600; 11mm at f/3.2; Exp. 30 secs. Taken in 29-06-2014 at 21:45 Sum of 24 images.
