Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    In the base of a valley: A town that uses mirrors for sunlight

18:00
24 November 2024

In the base of a valley
A town that uses mirrors for sunlight

A large mirror on the side of a mountain reflected sunlight towards a town in darkness due to its location within a valley.
Giant mirrors reflect sunlight towards the dark town of Rjukan. - © picture alliance

The days may be getting shorter, but at least we get natural sunlight, unlike a town in Norway that relies on mirrors to bring the sunshine.

Located at the bottom of a steep valley surrounded by mountains, the tiny town of Rjukan does not see sunlight for seven months of the year.

Rjukan was built between 1905 and 1906 by Sam Eyde. It was Eyde who dreamt of a giant mirror in 1913 to provide sunlight for the town's factory workers, though it took until 2013 that it became a reality.

Three 182-square-foot mirrors controlled by computer-driven motors were installed to bring a 6,500 square foot area of winter sunshine to the town.

The mirrors are able to bring 80-100% of the sun’s light to Rjukan by tracking the movement of the sun and repositioning themselves every 10 seconds to keep the light consistent.

Sunshine hours

Track sunshine hours near you with daily sunrise and sunset times in the astro card. 

Although the mirrors are unique, Rjukan’s were not the first. In December 2006, the town of Viganella in Italy’s Antrona Valley celebrated a day of light after a steel sheet was installed to reflect sunlight between November and February.

Why do the clocks change?read more
Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Split image showing a bright rainbow above a residential street on the left and a dramatic ocean sunrise with glowing clouds and reflections on the sea on the right.
Sunday 24 May 2026

Your weather - Your shots

From unsettled to warm and toasty
Weather warning map of Wales and western Britain showing a yellow thunderstorm alert with lightning symbols, alongside a large warning triangle for lightning.
Wednesday 27 May 2026

Wales & western England

Thunderstorm watch continues
Split image showing a nighttime lightning strike beneath storm clouds on the left and a lightning detection map with dense storm activity across central England on the right.
Wednesday 27 May 2026

Trickier than you think

Why it's hard to pinpoint thunderstorms
All weather news
This might also interest you
Weather graphic showing rain and wind fields over the Canary Islands and a central warning symbol.
Friday 12 December 2025

Storm and rain

Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands
plit image showing a double rainbow over a rocky shoreline on the left and sheep grazing in a green field under stormy clouds on the right.
Sunday 2 November 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mixed conditions on an unsettled week
Split image showing coastal sunset with layered lenticular clouds over rooftops and palm trees on the left, and a green valley with river and hills under soft daylight on the right.
Sunday 19 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Seasonal warmth between spring thunder
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList