The night has a different colour in parts of Berlin where the streets are lit by gas: the light more ethereal and the shadows deeper. But these areas could be plunged into darkness if Germany declares a heightened gas emergency in the autumn. Berlin has the world’s largest surviving gaslight network, mainly in the western part, where Charlottenburg’s stately boulevards are bathed in the ghostly light that lit much of the world in the 19th century. What was once a quirky curiosity easily afforded by the capital of a wealthy country is now a problem for city authorities as Germany prepares for a future without the Russian gas that has fueled its industry for decades. Fears Moscow could further dial back gas deliveries after its invasion of Ukraine have prompted Berlin to accelerate plans to replace its 23,000 remaining gaslights. “The most important thing […]