Imagine living in a charming valley of Norway, surrounded by towering peaks, but during winter, those same mountains hold back the sun.
This is the reality for the town of Rjukan in Telemark county. For nearly six months each year, typically from late September to mid-March, the sun doesn’t reach the town center, leaving its roughly 3,000 residents in near-perpetual shadow.
Early on, the town found a creative workaround: the Krossobanen cable car, built in 1928 by Norsk Hydro, carried residents up the mountain so they could feel sunlight on their faces but that meant leaving home to chase daylight.
A Century-Old Dream Turns Real
More than a century earlier, around 1913, an industrialist Sam Eyde had floated another, more radical idea: what if mirrors could redirect sunlight into the valley itself?
The idea lay dormant due to technological limits, until local artist Martin Andersen revived it in the early 2000s.
In 2013, three computer-controlled heliostats (mirrors that move to track the sun) were installed on the northern slopes of Gaustatoppen.
Each mirror spans about 17 m², totaling roughly 51 m² of reflective surface.
Together, they reflect sunlight into the town’s market square, creating a nearly 600-m² elliptical patch of warm, real sunlight each day, even in the darkest months.
Technology Meets Nature And Hearts
The installation cost around 5 million kroner (about €615,000 / $850,000), funded largely by local sponsors and Norsk Hydro.
The mirrors automatically pivot every 10 seconds to follow the sun, ensuring a steady beam of light into the square.
Local business owners and residents were initially skeptical, but the effects were immediate and uplifting. “It’s magnificent now that it’s in place,” said a café owner.
“The mirror reveals something that has never happened before, sun in the middle of Rjukan”.
More Than a Tourist Gimmick
While the mirrors have become an unusual tourist magnet, their value runs deeper. Residents describe the effect as powerful, not just physically, but psychologically.
Reddit users describe how stepping into that sunlight even briefly can shift perceptions:
“Those ‘artificial suns’… illuminate the main square and allow residents to enjoy the light.”
“It’s not about illuminating the whole town of Norway, it’s about small specs of real sunlight… It’s a psychological thing.”
Despite the winter still having its short days, that glowing patch of warmth offers a tangible mood lift.
Observers note that while it doesn’t extend daylight hours, it brings some real sunshine to a town built in darkness, and that’s remarkable in itself.
Engineering the Light
Placing those massive Mountain mirrors wasn’t easy. There’s no road to the site, so engineers had to rely on helicoptor lifts and even wooden tripods to install the gear, blending modern technology with old-school ingenuity.
The result: a sun-lit square in deep winter, powered by precise engineering and a bold, century-old idea finally realized.
Rjukan, Norway: A Heritage Illuminated
Rjukan isn’t just a mirror experiment, it’s also a powerhouse of industrial and wartime history. The town rose to prominence in the early 20th century thanks to Norsk Hydro and the nearby Rjukanfossen waterfall.
It was the site of key sabotage missions during WWII against the heavy water plant, which famously inspired The Heroes of Telemark.
In 2015, Rjukan–Notodden Industrial Heritage Site earned UNESCO World Heritage status, cementing its importance. The mirrors only add a modern twist to its rich legacy.
A Beacon for Cold Climates Everywhere
Rjukan’s sun / Mountain mirrors idea has inspired other places. An Italian village, Viganella, installed a similar mirror in 2006 to reflect sunlight into its shadowed square, reflecting that creative spirit also thrives beyond Norway.
Meanwhile, studies show that lack of winter sunlight weighs on mental health.
Solutions like Rjukan’s provide hope that even small patches of daylight can make a real difference to mood and community well-being.
Why It Matters Today
In our modern age, Rjukan’s sun mirror is more than just a technological novelty, it’s proof that we can creatively adapt to environmental challenges.
It’s a story of hope, resilience, and the belief that even in darkness, we can bring the sun to our doorstep.
Final Take
Rjukan’s Mountain mirrors is a beautiful blend of history, innovation, and human spirit.
From Sam Eyde’s early ambitions to Andersen’s modern realization, this project shows how communities can reclaim light, even where none seemed possible.
As the dark months roll around each year, Rjukan doesn’t just wait for spring.
Instead, it reflects hope, quite literally, in the form of a sunny patch that reminds us all: light can be found, even in places built in shadow.
