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The mountain range that dominates Alhama de Murcia's skyline will be off limits on the day Spain gets to experience its first total solar eclipse in over a century. Alhama de Murcia Town Hall has confirmed that the roads into Sierra Espuña will be closed on August 12, and while the closure is about wildfire risk, not the eclipse itself, it seems the mountain wouldn't have given a decent view of it anyway.

 

The General Directorate of the Natural Environment ordered access to the mountain range and other wooded areas to be shut off for the day as a precaution against fires, a real concern given how many extra visitors the eclipse is expected to draw to the area.

 

On top of that, the shape of Sierra Espuña itself would have partially blocked the western horizon, which happens to be exactly where you need a clear view to catch the eclipse at its most dramatic.

 

Rather than leave people without anywhere to go, the council has set up an official observation point near Condado de Alhama instead. It was picked for its wide open western horizon, giving a proper unobstructed view of the whole event, and it also gives the authorities enough room to manage the crowds and put safety measures in place.

 

The plans were signed off at a Local Security Board meeting held on Monday July 6 at Alhama's Town Hall, where officials worked through the preventive and coordination measures needed for a day expecting a serious influx of visitors.

 

Among the decisions made was the activation of the Municipal Emergency Plan in its pre-emergency phase, giving the town extra capacity to respond quickly if anything goes wrong.

 

Two mobile surveillance patrols will be out on the day too, with one focused specifically on the mountain range to watch for fire risk and keep access under control.

 

For more local information, including news and forthcoming events, visit the home page of Alhama Today