'Another world': total solar eclipse enthralls Iceland

A total solar eclipse swept across parts of Europe on Wednesday, briefly turning day into night along a narrow path of totality from Iceland to northern Spain. But clouds and rain spoiled the view for many spectators, obscuring the Moon’s dramatic passage across the Sun.

The Aug. 12 eclipse was the first total solar eclipse visible from central and western Europe since 1999, with totality crossing parts of Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain.

The Moon completely covered the Sun for up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds, although the duration varied by location.

Millions gathered in viewing areas across Spain and Iceland, while much of Europe saw a partial eclipse.

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, more than 90% of the Sun was obscured in some locations, producing noticeably darker skies and a temporary drop in temperatures.

Cloud cover and rain blocked the Sun in several locations, meaning some spectators experienced the darkness of the eclipse without seeing the moment of totality itself.

In Reykjavík, however, observers reported that the eclipse was more impressive than expected despite cloudy conditions.

The eclipse's path continued from the Arctic through Greenland and Iceland before crossing the Atlantic and reaching northern Spain.

Madrid and Barcelona were outside the path of totality, while cities including A Coruña, Bilbao, Valencia and Palma were among the Spanish locations able to experience totality.

In Iceland, total darkness swept over Keflavik, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) southwest of the capital Reykjavik, at 5:47 pm (1747 GMT | 9.47 pm Gulf time).

It was the first time the rare phenomenon was visible in Iceland's capital Reykjavik since 1433, and attracted thousands of tourists and locals across the country.

"I was actually having chills in my body," Glenn Rosa, a 44-year-old retail manager from Houston, Texas, told AFP just minutes after the darkness passed over Keflavik and its lighthouse.

"I think a tear or two came out of me, because I've never seen this, and it was an amazing experience," he said.

Mylisha Lanegan, a 34-year-old teacher from Washington state in the United States, was also enthralled, calling the experience "almost indescribable".

"I was looking out onto the lighthouse there, and you could just see it, it was like a shining beacon in the darkness around it."