Thousands of people are expected to flood into Southern Illinois Monday, April 8th to get their best view of the solar eclipse.

Marshall Mayor John Hastert tells our news partners at WAND-TV all of the hotels in the area have been booked a year in advance.

He also says all the state and private campgrounds are full.

The mayor of the town of 4000 says he was told, Whatever number of people you are expecting multiply it by TEN.

Local businesses are anxious to accommodate the visitors.

Marshall has activities planned over the weekend leading up to the eclipse.

A solar eclipse is caused when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun causing Luna’s shadow to fall on our planet.