On April 8, a rare celestial event will unfold across North America. A total eclipse - an infrequent occurrence where the moon's orbit aligns precisely with the sun - will cast its shadow across various regions of Canada, USA and Mexico.
Dubbed "The Great North American Eclipse," this phenomenon is notable for its rarity, with the next total eclipse visible from any part of North America not expected until 2044.
As anticipation mounts, demand for airfare and accommodation in cities offering optimal viewing has surged, leading to sold-out venues and rising hotel prices.
One of the premier locations to witness the moon passing between the earth and the sun, Ontario's Niagara Region is bracing for up to a million visitors. As a result, Regional Chair Jim Bradley proactively declared a State of Emergency.
According to Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati, the city's highest single-day visitor count was approximately 150,000, achieved during the tightrope walk across the waterfall by American acrobat Nik Wallenda in 2012.
This will be eight to nine times that number, especially depending on the weather,” Mr. Diodati said. “For traffic, the volume will be enormous,” he added. “It will be very difficult to get a fire truck or an ambulance or a police car. So we’re going to try to proactively position them in strategic locations that are accessible. We’ll have medical stations, porta-potties. We’re trying to think of everything.”
The eclipse's trajectory will commence on Mexico's Pacific coast in the morning before cutting diagonally across the United States from Texas to Maine, eventually concluding in eastern Canada by late afternoon. Parts of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island & Newfoundland and Labrador will be in the path of a total solar eclipse, while regions outside the path of totality will experience a partial eclipse.
Despite the declaration of emergency in Niagara underscoring the potential risks preceding April 8, Mayor Diodati emphasized that the event presents a significant opportunity for the tourism sector, which continues its recuperation from the pandemic.
"We're receiving exposure that would have been unattainable otherwise, and we're appreciative of it. I mean, while COVID posed challenges, now we're being presented with a total solar eclipse by the universe," remarked Mayor Diodati.
