PHOTO ESSAY: In Pictures: Total solar eclipse sweeps across Europe

A total solar eclipse swept across parts of Europe, with totality visible in Spain, Portugal, Iceland, and Greenland. The eclipse was also visible as a partial eclipse across much of Europe, the UK, and parts of North Africa. This was the first mainland total solar eclipse in Europe since 1999.

The eclipse was witnessed by millions, with large crowds gathering at viewing sites across the UK and Europe. In Iceland, hotel room prices surged to over $1,000 per night in the capital, Reykjavik, a 212% increase above the city's average rate. According to Spain's secretary of State for science, up to 6 million visitors were expected in mostly rural areas within the eclipse's path across the north of Spain and the Balearic Islands.

The path of the total eclipse began in Siberia, then curved around the Arctic Ocean, arriving in Iceland before sweeping southwards to treat the UK to a partial view. The next total solar eclipse is expected in August 2027, visible across northern Africa, according to NASA.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick, BBC Science, ABC News AU, Business Insider, South China Morning Post — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.