Millions of Americans and many visitors who traveled to the United States specifically for the total solar eclipse are preparing for the event. The massive influx of people, however, is raising concerns over the security of the country and its citizens and is putting some areas, like Niagara, in a state of emergency. Tomorrow, Monday, April 8, the sun will be fully covered just before 15.30 local time (22.30 Greek time), with the rare and impressive phenomenon of the total solar eclipse fully visible in States of the North-East part of the country, including New York.
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The total solar eclipse will be visible on the Pacific coast of Mexico on the morning of April 8 (US local time), cross the US from Texas to Maine, and be best seen on Canada's east coast in the afternoon. Most of the rest of North America will see a partial eclipse, scientists estimate.
This is a rare phenomenon that millions of Americans will be able to observe and is expected to attract many tourists.
In Burlington, Vermont, in the northeastern part of the country, the sun will be completely covered shortly before 15:30 local time (22:30 Greek time) on April 8.
Many hotels have been recording occupancy for months. And the prices of the few remaining rooms, usually around $150 a night, have skyrocketed between $600 and $700 for the day of the year's most important astronomical event.
"I don't know if we'll have anything like it again," Jeff Lawsan, vice president of the local chamber of commerce, told AFP.
He said it was an "incredible opportunity" that was "literally falling from the sky" for the city of 40,000.
As long as the weather doesn't spoil the celebration, Burlington will allow Burlington to double its population during that time, with visitors arriving by car, train and even private jet, Jeff Lawsan said.
About 32 million people live on the path of total darkness, where a total solar eclipse will be visible, according to NASA.
Many schools in the U.S. have announced that they will not operate on Monday, April 8.
Some schools, such as those in San Antonio, will close, in part because traffic problems are predicted by the thousands of people expected to travel to cities along the path of the total solar eclipse. Other schools, such as in East Tennessee, will close earlier, while those that remain open will modify classes around the eclipse.
The total solar eclipse will be visible from 15 U.S. states and will plunge several major cities into darkness, including Dallas, Little Rock, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Buffalo. Americans in almost all states will have the opportunity to see at least a partial solar eclipse — unless bad weather doesn't allow it.
Greek scientists will also be in the US to observe the total solar eclipse that will take place on Monday, April 8.
Meanwhile, six New York inmates ask to see the solar eclipse due to religion. The six New York state inmates asked the U.S. judiciary to intervene to order correctional authorities to allow them to go out into a courtyard to watch Monday's total solar eclipse, saying their religious freedom would be violated otherwise.
One Muslim plaintiff cites passages from holy texts, two Christians cite a passage from the Bible that speaks of an eclipse, another claims to be a believer of the Santeria religion, from the Caribbean.
However, so far, at least, their request has not been granted. The ban on going out to the courtyard during the eclipse is justified by "security" reasons, the prison administration said in a press release, adding that special glasses will be distributed to correctional officers and inmates who wish to look at the sky from their cell.
Finally, a state of emergency will be placed on Monday, April 8, in the area of Niagara.
Authorities in the Niagara region have declared a state of emergency as a precaution ahead of the rare solar eclipse as a huge crowd is expected to gather in the falls to watch it.
