Title: "Spain’s Quiet Mountain Village Overrun by Eclipse Chasers—Can It Cope?"

**Article:** The tiny mountain village of Somosierra, Spain, is preparing for an unusual invasion. On the evening of 12 August, a total solar eclipse will sweep across northern and eastern Spain and the Balearic Islands—the first of its kind in the region in over 120 years. And Somosierra sits right in the prime viewing path. Normally, little stirs in the mountains above the village. The wind whips across the flat peaks. Cows graze on dry grass. The sun beats down on an abandoned aerodrome, where generations of glider pilots once learned to ride air currents alongside vultures and red kites. That stillness will vanish, at least for a few hours, when thousands of astrotourists arrive to witness the celestial alignment. Local officials are bracing for logistical challenges: narrow roads, limited parking, and a lack of basic services such as restrooms and water. The eclipse is a rare event, and Somosierra offers an unobstructed view. But the village’s infrastructure was never designed for crowds. Organizers are urging visitors to plan ahead, arrive early, and bring supplies. For one evening, the quiet mountain will become a stage for the sky—and a test of how a small community handles the world’s attention.