Eclipse viewers travel astronomical distances to watch in IL, IDNR says
ILLINOIS (WCIA) — It’s been one week since the moon’s shadow swept across Illinois and the rest of the U.S. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, some visitors to its parks traveled long distances to get there and see the celestial event.
The IDNR said more than 30 state parks and historic sites in or near the path of totality hosted eclipse viewing events. Those events drew tens of thousands of people from across the state and across the country. A few spectators even crossed international boundaries to see the eclipse.
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The IDNR said staff at Fort Defiance in Cairo spotted license plates from states as far away as Georgia, Minnesota and Utah. Internationally, the IDNR welcomed visitors from countries like Canada, Peru, The Netherlands, Greece and Belarus.
“It was our pleasure to host each and every one of you, and we hope you will come back soon to explore more that we have to offer,” the IDNR posted on its Facebook page.
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