Dark Mode Light Mode

Rjukan’s Giant Mirrors: Norway’s Ingenious Light Solution

Nestled in a deep valley in Telemark County, the Norwegian town of Rjukan is surrounded by towering mountains that block direct sunlight for nearly half the year. Imagine waking up in late autumn and realizing that you won’t feel the sun’s gentle warmth or see its bright rays until spring.

That was the annual reality for Rjukan’s residents—and the inspiration for their inventive solution. In 2013, they installed giant mirrors high up on the mountainside to reflect sunlight into the heart of the town. This audacious project not only brought literal rays of hope to the community but also captured the world’s attention as an example of human ingenuity at its best.

The Long Winters of Rjukan

Credit: Getty Images

Rjukan is known for its dramatic landscape. Tourists who visit in summer enjoy vistas of cascading waterfalls and lush green hills, but winter can be rough. The tall mountains all around cast a shadow over Rjukan’s 3,000 residents from roughly September to March. With limited direct sunlight, the days feel shorter than they already are in Scandinavia’s northern latitudes.

Many people dealt with it by heading to higher ground, riding the Krossobanen cable car up the mountain to catch a glimpse of the sun. Others simply endured the dim winter months by staying indoors, relying on artificial lighting and waiting for the seasons to change.

A Dream Over a Century Old

Credit: Getty Images

While the giant mirrors made headlines in 2013, the idea isn’t new. The town’s founding father, industrialist Sam Eyde, first suggested placing mirrors on the mountainside more than a hundred years ago. Eyde was a visionary behind Norway’s early hydroelectric power developments, but his mirror plans were too grand and out of reach for the technology of his time. He settled, instead, on the next best thing: building the Krossobanen in 1928 so residents could ascend above the shadows for a little sunshine.

Fast-forward to the 21st century, when artist Martin Andersen revived Eyde’s mirror idea. Rjukan, with its stoic acceptance of dark winters, was still longing for a better fix. Andersen recognized that modern materials, satellite-guided orientation systems, and computer-controlled mirrors could do what Eyde couldn’t achieve a century before. And so the project—called “Solspillet,” or “the sun mirror”—began to take shape.

How the Mirrors Work

mirrors that follow the sun’s movement
Credit: Getty Images

Far above the town center, three giant heliostats (mirrors that follow the sun’s movement) were installed on the mountainside. They’re about 17 square meters each—roughly the size of three large garage doors put together. Powered by solar and wind energy, these mirrors track the sun’s position across the sky, reflecting its beams onto a particular spot in the town’s main square.

The reflection creates a bright, sunlit patch in the center of Rjukan, offering residents a place to bask in sunlight, even on the darkest winter days. It’s not a miracle cure for the season’s gloom, but the simple addition of a naturally lit gathering space has lifted the town’s morale in a way no ordinary lamp could.

A Symbol of Hope and Community


What makes this project more than a curious tourist attraction is the sense of possibility it brought. Where once the residents faced a communal darkness, now they watch the light move across their central square, welcoming them into a shared space. Parents bring their children out to play; older folks gather on benches to chat and warm their faces. Photographers and journalists arrive to document a piece of living history—an innovative solution that bridged a gap between nature’s limitations and human tenacity.

On sunny winter afternoons, you can feel the excitement radiating from that small patch of sunlight. It’s almost as if the town is collectively saying, “Yes, the sun is still here!” That communal spirit was always present in Rjukan, but the mirrors turned a challenge into a unique advantage. They became a shining emblem of local pride, highlighting the creativity needed to thrive in extreme conditions.

Previous Post
How Did the Pantheon’s Dome Stand the Test of Time

How Did the Pantheon’s Dome Stand the Test of Time? Rome’s Engineering Marvel

Next Post

10 Civil War Sites Every History Buff Needs to See