Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    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
Forest fires spread to south-east Europe. Heat and strong winds. . . Thursday, 30 July 2026
Split image showing an active wildfire with flames and thick smoke on the left, and a wind forecast map of Greece on the right with gusts of 25–35 mph around the Aegean Sea, alongside a wildfire warning symbol highlighting elevated fire danger.
Thursday, 30 July 2026

Heat and strong winds

Forest fires spread to south-east Europe
June records rise after verification. Multiple new highs. . . Thursday, 30 July 2026
Temperature map of the UK and Ireland highlighting verified June temperature records, with 38°C in England, 35.1°C in Wales, and 30.8°C in Ireland. A large thermometer icon emphasizes record-breaking June heat across the UK.
Thursday, 30 July 2026

Multiple new highs

June records rise after verification
Vibrant skies for the last week of July. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 2 August 2026
Split image showing a golden-orange countryside sunset with silhouetted trees and birds on the left, and glowing blue-white noctilucent clouds rippling across the twilight sky above trees and a lake on the right.
Sunday, 2 August 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Vibrant skies for the last week of July
All weather news
This might also interest you
Seasonal warmth between spring thunder. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 19 April 2026
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
Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands. Storm and rain. . . Friday, 12 December 2025
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
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
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

facebooktwittertikToklinkList