Want to see the solar eclipse in Norway? Mind the bears

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Norwegian authorities are reminding visitors who want to eye a total solar eclipse from the remote Arctic island of Svalbard this month to be aware of polar bears, dress warmly and make sure they have a place to stay before coming.

The governor of Svalbard said in leaflets and online that visitors should remember that the average temperature for March is -15 degrees C (5 degrees Fahrenheit) and polar bears roam there freely. He added accommodations have been booked for years.

A solar eclipse occurs March 20 in a narrow path across the northern hemisphere and the Svalbard archipelago, more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) north of the Norwegian mainland, is one of the best places to see it.