Niagara Falls declares a state of emergency ahead of the expected total eclipse

The Niagara region in Canada declared a state of emergency ahead of a rare total solar eclipse that is expected to occur on April 8 and attract large crowds of tourists to the famous waterfalls area.

The district reported that Governor Jim Bradley declared a state of emergency "out of an abundance of caution."

It said in a statement: “Declaring a state of emergency strengthens the tools the region has to preserve the health and safety of residents and visitors and protect our vital infrastructure from any eventualities that may occur.”

The eclipse passes over the picturesque waterfalls located on the Canadian-American border, and many people flock to hotels available for rent before the phenomenon occurs to witness it at one of the natural wonders in North America.

National Geographic magazine listed the famous waterfalls as one of the best places to view the eclipse, a phenomenon not seen in the region since 1979. The city is located within the path where the moon will completely obscure the sun for a few minutes.

Jim Diodati, the mayor of Niagara Falls in the Canadian province of Ontario, expected this to be "the largest crowd we have ever seen, by a large margin." He estimated that up to about a million people would attend, compared to the 14 million people who typically visit the region over the course of an entire year.

The district will also modify some of its programs and services and close some facilities to keep traffic off the roads on April 8.