NewsKPBS Public MediaAugust 13, 2026San Diego
Millions gather across Spain and Iceland for first total solar eclipse in over a century
Millions of spectators across Spain, Portugal, Iceland, and Greenland witnessed a total solar eclipse on Wednesday, the first such event in Spain in over 100 years. Spanish authorities deployed over 33,500 law enforcement officers to manage crowds and safety at 350 designated viewing sites amid high temperatures and ongoing wildfire concerns.
Read the full story at KPBS Public MediaWhy It Matters
The event drew hundreds of thousands of additional visitors to Spain and Iceland, causing significant spikes in hotel demand and prices, with some Reykjavik rooms exceeding $1,000 per night.
Key Facts
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Who's Mentioned
locationReykjavík“Capital of Iceland.”personVeronica Orozco“Spectator in Greenwich Park, London.”personSverre Rud“Captain of the MS Spitsbergen cruise ship.”personSteinþór Jónsson“Owner and manager of Hotel Keflavík.”locationMedinaceli“Town in northeast Spain.”organizationHotel Keflavík“Hotel in Reykjanesbaer municipality.”personRosa Celiberti“Language teacher who watched the eclipse in Medinaceli.”personRonald Reagan“Former U.S. President who visited Reykjavík in 1986.”personAja Lilit“Spectator celebrating a birthday.”organizationLighthouse Intelligence“Data group that tracked hotel pricing.”organizationSpanish Interior Ministry“Managed public safety and law enforcement deployment.”locationÁvila“Site of a major wildfire in central Spain.”personMikhail Gorbachev“Former Soviet leader who visited Reykjavík in 1986.”