Story summary
Millions of people gathered in Spain and other parts of Europe to watch a total solar eclipse on Wednesday. The path of totality, which is the area where the moon completely blocks the sun's light, included Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal. In these areas, people witnessed a rare spectacle as the moon blocked the sun's light, revealing the sun's corona. However, in other parts of Europe, such as Canada, people saw only a partial eclipse.
The event was significant not just for its rarity but also due to the large crowds that gathered to witness it. Spanish authorities warned people ahead of the eclipse to avoid activities that could lead to new wildfires, deploying over 33,000 law enforcement officers in an effort to prevent fires. The eclipse came at a time when Spain is already grappling with a devastating wildfire season, which has burned over 603,000 acres of land so far this year.
The solar eclipse was the first total solar eclipse to be visible from Spain in over a century and marked a rare opportunity for people to witness such an event. The path of totality will not be visible again in Canada until August 2044, making this week's event a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many people.
Written for “Solar Eclipse Tourist Strains” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
Millions gather to watch total solar eclipse in Spain; Canada sees partial eclipse
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Canada → gather → eclipse
The Latest
- Millions across Spain watched the country's first total solar eclipse in over a century amid hot and clear conditions.
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- Spanish officials warned people ahead of the celestial event to avoid anything that could lead to new wildfires, deploying more than 33,000 law enforcement officers.
- Totality — when the moon completely blocks the sun's light — began near the North Pole.
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moon → warn → Pole
The path of totality included Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain and Portugal.
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path → include → Russia
- Parts of Canada experienced a partial solar eclipse.
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- Are you currently in or travelling to Europe to watch the solar eclipse?
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you → travel → eclipse
We want to hear from you.
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Updates
August 12
Hanna LeeBook your tickets now — we're in an eclipse golden age
We are in an unusual prime period for solar eclipses, reports Forbes.
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Most people are lucky to see a total eclipse once in their lifetime, but over the next 700 or so days, Earth is set to experience three total solar eclipses across three continents.
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The next one, set for Aug. 2, 2027, is being called the eclipse of the century, as the area near Luxor, Egypt, will experience six minutes and 23 seconds of totality.
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area → set → totality
That will be the longest land-based total eclipse between 1991 and 2114.
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The conclusion to the trilogy will be on July 22, 2028, when Australia and New Zealand will be swept under totality.
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Australia → sweep → totality
The next two eclipses will also be visible in parts of Spain, making the country even more of a destination for astro-tourism.
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country → make → tourism
Total eclipse trios aren't unheard of, typically repeating every 18 years.
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Instead of making jetsetters traverse across remote oceans, the path of totality will cross established tourist destinations like Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Australia.
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path → make → Egypt
A reader who hails from Kanata, Ont., sent this photo he snapped from the deck of the Enchanted Princess, a cruise ship bringing eclipse tourists around the Mediterranean.
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he → hail → Mediterranean
Whitman Strong wrote that they were 60 kilometres south of the island of Mallorca, Spain, in the western Mediterranean Sea when totality hit.
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"An incredible sight!!!" he wrote.
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A fully booked hotel and bountiful feast for the crowd in Iceland
Birna Mjöll Atladóttir, owner of Hotel Breiðavík in Iceland’s Westfjords, had been thinking about the eclipse for years.
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Her anticipation began about 14 years ago, and preparations for the big day started in earnest last winter.
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preparations → begin → day
By April, she and her husband were getting ready to welcome the crowds expected to descend on the remote region, Atladóttir told CBC Radio's As It Happens guest host Saroja Coelho.
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The hotel is booked full, and the campground, which usually has around 100 people, had as many as 2,000 people to gather for the eclipse.
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which → book → eclipse
Even her children, who have all since moved away, returned to help with the event.
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That also meant preparing a very big menu — from Icelandic fish and lamb stew to soups and vegetarian dishes — to feed the crowds.
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As the eclipse unfolded before her eyes, Atladóttir shared her excitement in real time, describing the scene as it happened.
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!
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It's getting darker and darker.
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I wish you could see it!"
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"People are screaming everywhere, it’s like we have wolves around," she said.
"
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I'm grateful for my family, for my friends, everybody that helped me make this happen like it did today."
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it → help → friends
Heads up: Meteor showers also visible tonight
The Perseids meteor shower peaks every year in mid-August.
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CBC Kids News contributor Zach Morin explains why, along with some tips on how to watch the annual meteor shower.
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This eclipse coincides with the Perseids meteor shower, which peaks every August.
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This shower is considered one of the year's best because of the quantity and brightness of the meteors; the viewing weather also tends to be favourable around this time.
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weather → consider → time
If you want to see it, get out early tonight, says Peter Brown of Western University — you'll probably start seeing Perseids around 9:30 or 10 p.m ET.
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It's expected to peak around midnight.
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These produce fewer meteors at their peak, but they'll still increase your chances of seeing a shooting star.
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In short, it's "meteor Christmas," Brown said.
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Tip: Stay off your phone when you're outside.
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It can take a half-hour or more for your eyes to adjust to the dark, and the phone's brightness can interfere with that.
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Canadians who missed out on the total solar eclipse that crossed parts of southern Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes in April 2024 will have to wait a couple of decades for their next chance to see one at home.
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that → miss → home
…and 21 more, not listed.
