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Tens of millions of people offered a rare convergence the appearance of a total eclipse that rocks major cities like Mexico, US and Canada.
The Moon’s shadow plunged the Pacific coast of Mexico into total darkness at 11:07 am local time (1807 GMT) and swept across the United States at supersonic speed before it returned to the ocean over Canada’s Atlantic coast just under an hour and a half after landfall.
Festivals, viewing parties, and even mass weddings were planned along the eclipse’s “path of totality,” where the Moon could be seen completely obscuring the Sun for up to a few minutes — weather permitting. Cloud cover played spoilsport over parts of Texas.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador visited Sinaloa to witness firsthand the eclipse from the resort of Mazatlan, describing the event as a “very beautiful, unforgettable day.”
Thousands gathered in Mexico City, just outside the path of totality. “These are opportunities given by Earth and nature that we must seize,” 29-year-old artist Mariana Juarez told AFP.
Delta Airlines has planned two special flights along the path, while many schools in the zone shut for the day.
