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

Preparing for the storms. What to do now. . . Thursday 22 October 2026
Split image showing Storm Austen winds up to 65 mph near Brest and 55 mph near Plymouth, alongside fallen tree branches on a cordoned-off park path.
Thursday 22 October 2026

What to do now

Preparing for the storms
Severe weather in the south of France. Holiday spots affected. . . Monday 19 October 2026
A severe weather warning for heavy rain has been issued for the south of France.
Monday 19 October 2026

Holiday spots affected

Severe weather in the south of France
Warnings live across the UK and Ireland. How do they work?. . . Tuesday 20 October 2026
Weather warning map showing yellow and orange wind alerts across Ireland and England, with red level 3 areas in southwest England and a windsock symbol.
Tuesday 20 October 2026

How do they work?

Warnings live across the UK and Ireland
All weather news

This might also interest you

Bright and warm conditions take hold. Spring-like outlook. . . Thursday 23 April 2026
Split UK map showing warm temperatures up to 21 degrees in orange on the left and clear sunny conditions with temperatures from 12 to 18 degrees on the right, with sun icons across the country.
Thursday 23 April 2026

Spring-like outlook

Bright and warm conditions take hold
Flooding, gales, and heavy snow. Storm Chandra. . . Tuesday 27 January 2026
Split image showing aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
New records for England and Wales. Broken again tomorrow?. . . Thursday 25 June 2026
Temperature map of southwest Britain on 25.06 showing extreme heat across southern Wales and southwest England, with Bute Park in Cardiff highlighted at 34.2°C and Yeovilton at 36.4°C amid widespread deep red heat zones.
Thursday 25 June 2026

Broken again tomorrow?

New records for England and Wales
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