nocturnal creatures are dwindling and as light pollution is rising, it contributes to these deteriorations.

"However, with this designation, the area's wildlife will be improved, the quality of the environment will be protected, there will be a new natural attraction to attract new visitors to Snowdonia on quiet periods of the year, the local economy will be improved and the dark sky above Snowdonia will be protected for future generations."

image copyright Keith O'Brien

International Dark Sky Reserves

Aoraki Mackenzie (New Zealand)

Brecon Beacons National Park (Wales)

National Park Exmoor (England)

Kerry (Ireland)

Mont-Megantic (Quebec)

Nature Reserve NamibRand (Namibia)

Pic du Midi (France)

Rhon (Germany)

Snowdonia National Park (Wales)

Westhavelland (Germany)Natural spas, electricity: IIT-led team uncovers power of India’s Western Ghat geysers

A team of researchers led by IIT-Bombay recognises vast economic potential in the famous geysers of Maharashtra’s Western Ghats.

Bengaluru: An IIT-Bombay-led team studying the famous geysers of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra has flagged their vast potential as a source of green energy as well as jobs.

Imagine natural geyser-powered spas à la Iceland and New Zealand in the lap of the lush green ghats, besides several other operations such as food preservation plants and aquafarming centres that can transform the local economy.

The team, comprising Trupti Chandrashekhar of the department of earth sciences at IIT-Bombay, and collaborators from IIT-Hyderabad, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Amethi, and the University of Florence, Italy, had set out to study a