Total solar eclipse sweeps Iceland, Spain into darkness

A total solar eclipse is crossing Greenland, Iceland, and Spain on Wednesday, plunging millions into brief darkness in what is mainland Europe's first total eclipse since 1999 and Spain's first since 1905.

The moon's shadow began its journey over a remote corner of northern Russia before racing across eastern Greenland and Iceland's western coast, where the longest totality of 2 minutes and 18 seconds occurs over Breiðafjörður Bay. By evening, the shadow will reach northern Spain just before sunset, offering up to 1 minute and 50 seconds of totality in parts of the country.astronomy+1

Spain Braces for Millions of Visitors

Spain is expecting up to 6 million tourists for the event, according to Reuters, citing the country's secretary of state for science, Juan Cruz. The Interior Ministry has deployed more than 33,500 law enforcement officers to observation areas, with 350 official viewing sites set up across the country's sparsely populated interior.pbs+1

The security operation comes against the backdrop of Spain's worst wildfire season. Only weeks ago, the most destructive wildfire in Spanish history burned through 500 square kilometers in Ávila, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska warned that "high temperatures, the accumulated dryness of vegetation, and the intense pressure on natural areas due to projected travel necessitate extreme preventive measures".pbs

In Medinaceli, a Roman-era hilltop town in northeast Spain, sky watchers secured grassy viewing points hours early. "It must be thrilling to see the darkness come suddenly and the image of the sun disappearing," said Agatha Bak, a philosophy professor who left Madrid at sunrise with friends.pbs

Iceland Welcomes Its First Total Eclipse Since 1954

In Iceland, where totality reaches Reykjavík for the first time since 1433, hotel rooms in the capital were averaging more than $1,000 for Wednesday night. Authorities expect up to 20,000 additional overseas visitors during peak tourist season in a country of fewer than 400,000 people.pbs

Off Greenland's coast, the MS Spitsbergen circled the waters of Rypefjord as Captain Sverre Rudd positioned his 126 passengers for the best possible view. "When we were down for breakfast earlier, it was almost like a little bit of a Christmas Eve feeling here," Rudd said.pbs

Partial Views Across Europe and North America

Major European cities outside the path of totality will still witness a dramatic partial eclipse — Paris at 92% coverage, London at 91%, and Berlin at 85%. In the United States, a partial eclipse is visible in 26 states and Washington, D.C., with NASA livestreaming beginning at 1:15 p.m. ET.usatoday+2

The eclipse also coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, raising the possibility that observers in totality's path could spot a shooting star during the brief darkness. The next total solar eclipse will occur on August 2, 2027, crossing southern Spain, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East with a totality lasting over six minutes.earthsky+1