Mad about Chile鈥檚 eclipse
Print Edition
The total solar eclipse expected in northern Chile early next month is already drawing flocks of visitors eager to glimpse a rare view of the phenomenon through the region鈥檚 clear skies.
In Coquimbo, a region spanning the Pacific coast and the Andes, tourism demand has already eclipsed offerings of some services, forcing hotels there to put up signs warning they have no rooms left by the July 2 event.
Flights to Coquimbo offered by Chile鈥檚 LATAM Airlines as well as budget carriers Sky and JETSMART are being snapped up, as a clock in the coastal town of La Serena in Coquimbo counts down to the big day.
鈥淧eople have gone mad. They want the day to come as soon as possible,鈥 local resident Patricia said about the frenzy.
Together with parts of Argentina and New Zealand, northern Chile is one of the few places in the world that will be directly facing the sun when the moon passes in front of the Earth, blocking its light completely and darkening skies for several minutes.
Total solar eclipses occur at any specific location on average every 360 years, according to the European Southern Observatory.
Chile prides itself on being an astronomer鈥檚 paradise, home to dozens of telescopes and ambitious studies at its observatories. The eclipse is expected to draw some 400,000 visitors to Coquimbo, according to the government.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a unique occasion,鈥 Chilean astronomer Ivo Saviane said from the La Silla Observatory that he manages.
鈥淔or everyone, whether from Chile or abroad, it鈥檚 exciting.鈥
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera is one of 150 鈥淰IPs鈥 with tickets to watch the eclipse at La Silla. Pinera has touted the eclipse as among the most important events in Chile this year, among with major international summits that will bring world leaders to the South American country.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
