Total solar eclipse sweeps Europe, draws crowds and boosts tourism
Photographers captured images as a total solar eclipse was observed across parts of mainland Europe on August 12, marking the first such event in decades, Euronews reported. The eclipse, which began in Iceland's Westfjords attracted visitors despite cloudy forecasts and limited local infrastructure, Newser noted. The path of totality stretched from Iceland through Greenland to northern Spain, covering up to 40% of the country, The New York Times said, prompting a surge of travelers and safety preparations. Cloud cover threatened visibility in several locations, The New York Times added.
In Spain, around a million people gathered to watch the brief totality, and authorities implemented extensive safety measures, AP reported. The event boosted local economies, with tourism and sales of viewing equipment rising sharply, CNBC observed. National Geographic photographers documented the eclipse, noting it was the first total solar eclipse over mainland Spain in more than a century.
