Around the world

Norway

'Polar bears are on the prowl'

The Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard is discouraging last-minute visitors for a rare solar eclipse this week, warning that hotels are full, it will be freezing cold, and polar bears are on the prowl. Christin Kristoffersen, mayor of Svalbard's main settlement, Longyearbyen, said an expected 1,500 visitors for the eclipse, on top of about 2,500 residents, meant the island chain had reached a maximum safe limit.