Viewing the eclipse in Spain is complicated by the Sun’s low altitude: only about 10 degrees above the horizon on the north coast and a mere 4 degrees at the Balearic Sea during totality. This means the horizon must be completely clear of obstacles—hills, forests, or even distant haze—regardless of conditions elsewhere in the sky. In the later parts of the track, special care is needed to avoid elevated terrain or poorly placed tree lines that could block the view.

The Iberian Peninsula’s rugged topography shapes the eclipse path with three mountain ranges, two elevated central plateaus, a broad river valley, and two coastal plains. To the north, the Cordillera Cantábrica acts as a barrier, trapping Bay of Biscay moisture along the coastal lowlands and limiting its intrusion inland. Some gaps exist, particularly between Bilbao and Burgos, but even there the 1,000-metre heights northeast of Burgos typically slow the advance of moist Atlantic air.

In central Spain, the shadow crosses a more complex landscape. North of the central line lies the low-lying Ebro River Basin, while to the south it passes over the Meseta Central, a plateau at 600–700 metres elevation. The Meseta is divided into northern and southern sections by the Sierra de Guadarrama, a mountain chain north of Madrid. The Guadarrama rises roughly 1,000 metres above the plateau, with peaks reaching up to 2,400 metres.

Farther east, the Sistema Ibérico begins near Burgos and sweeps southward. Initially north of the eclipse line, it eventually spreads across much of the southern track before reaching the Mediterranean. This system is not a single chain but a loose collection of at least seven smaller ranges and massifs, forming a natural divide between the Meseta, the Ebro Basin, and the Mediterranean coast. Elevations are moderate, with peaks around 2,300 metres.