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Thousands of People Cheer Eclipse in Zambia
Thousands of people cheered the total eclipse of the sun, which occurred in Zambia on Thursday afternoon.
The eclipse track reached the country's western border town of Chavuma at 2:57 p.m. (1257 GMT), where total darkness lasted 3 minutes 59 seconds.
From there it headed southeastward through the capital of Lusaka where a total eclipse lasted 3 minutes 14 seconds.
Lusaka is the major city in the track of the eclipse so that it has drawn over 10,000 foreign tourists who prefer to see the eclipse live, rather than have a "second hand" view through the Internet or satellite television.
In the capital, at around 3:00 p.m. (1300 GMT), the sky became dark as if a big storm was about to come. Nine minutes later, it was as dark as night.
Lusaka International Airport, one of the viewing points designated by the authorities, was in an atmosphere of festival, with traditional dances and music melodies on the sun being played by the organizers.
Children asked scientists naive but amusing questions about the sun and outer space.
Zambian President Frederick Chiluba, thousands of tourists, plus many amateur astrologists and professional photographers, shared the rare event.
The solar eclipse in the new millennium started in the Atlantic Ocean, moved into Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, then on to Madagascar and finally faded out in the Indian Ocean.
The whole process lasted about three hours. Most of Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique had at least 80 percent coverage.
Unlike other neighboring countries, such as Angola and Mozambique, that have been rocked with civil unrest, Zambia is in a peaceful and stable situation, which has made the country grab the bulk of the visitors.
Tourism Minister Michael Mabenga said a record 20,000 foreign tourists, arrived in the country to view the solar eclipse.
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