From New York’s Times Square to lights London offices – some cities are famous for being lit. More and more cities in the world are installing LEDs and artificial ones lights in the interests of technological progress and the reduction of energy consumption.

Although this is a revolutionary change in some cities, research shows an increasing predominance of LEDs lighting can damage the human eye, wrote a British server Good contact (FGC). So-called light pollution, also known as light smog, can also have a disruptive effect on wildlife.

The FGC analyzed the average number of hours of daylight, the level of light pollution, the brightness level of artificial lights and the number of contributions on the instagram showing city lighting, and based on this, compiled a list of the brightest cities in the world. It also mentions Prague, which ended up as the eighth darkest city in the world.

THE BRIGHTEST CITIES

1. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The brightest city in the world is Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The brightest and most populous city in the country lies in the middle of the Nafúd Desert – vast sandy plains covering 103,600 square kilometers. This Middle Eastern city is experiencing long, hot and bright summers, which contrast with the short winter season. With an average of more than eight hours of solar lights daily, Riyadh is naturally one of the brightest cities on the planet.

In addition, Saudi Arabia’s financial center is lit by street lights, office buildings and the annual Nur Riyadh Festival of Lights. This is also known for the level of light pollution, which reaches almost 19 millicandels per square meter (mcd / m2).

2. Moscow, Russia

The Russian capital is famous for its Christmas light and is the second brightest city in the world. Although Moscow has an average of only five hours of daylight, the city is lit by a lot of artificial light lighting. Its light pollution is just over 20mcd / m2, which is the most on the FGC list.

Not surprisingly, this covering city of skyscrapers, famous for its New Year’s fireworks, is one of the brightest on the planet. There are more than 11,000 entries on the instagram marked #MoscowLights (Moscow Lights), which proves the success of the festive light shows.

3. Washington, United States

The US capital Washington is in third place. Thanks to an average of almost seven hours of sunshine lights this city is naturally lit. During Christmas, the city is illuminated by a wide range of light decorations. For the rest of the year, 75,000 street lights provide a lasting glow over the city. The level of light smog in Washington reaches almost 18 mcd / m2, which is the third highest value of all the world’s capitals.

4. London, Britain

London’s location among the most vibrant cities in the world is quite surprising, given that England is often associated with cloudy skies, rain and short summers.

Despite the average less than 4.5 hours a day lights London is one of the brightest cities in the world. What he doesn’t get in the natural light, he catches up with street lights and celebrations – from New Year’s fireworks to festivals like Illuminature. London’s light pollution is just over 11 mcd / m2.

5. Buenos Aires, Argentina

The South American metropolis of red wine and steaks is also the fifth brightest city on the planet. Buenos Aires has an average of less than seven hours of sunshine lights daily, but the city is covered with artificial lighting and its level of light pollution is the fourth highest in the world – 12 mcd / m2.

THE DARKEST CITIES IN THE WORLD

1. Bogotá, Colombia

Bogotá, Colombia, has ended up as the darkest city in the world, with an average of just over 3.5 hours of sunshine lights daily. Its light pollution is less than three mcd / m2.

2. Reykjavík, Ostrov

It is no big surprise that the second darkest city in the world is the island of Reykjavík. Although they are experiencing the famous “noon” period, when the sun can last up to 22 hours and never set completely, the long and dark island winter months mean that Reykjavík has an average of less than four hours of sunshine. lights daily. Iceland is also one of the countries with the lowest levels of artificial lighting.

3. Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Luxembourg, nestled between France, Germany and Belgium, became the third darkest city in the world. The capital of Luxembourg has an average of less than five hours of sunshine lights daily and there is also little street lighting.

According to the FGC, Prague is the eighth darkest capital with an average of 4.5 hours of sunshine lights daily and light pollution 5.21 mcd / m2. Bratislava reached the 13th place of “darkness” with 5.5 hours of sunshine lights per day and light pollution approximately five mcd / m2.