Giant mirrors spanning more than 50m2 have been installed at the top of a mountain in Norway to bring light to a town that sits in darkness for months on end.
Rjukan has a shadow cast over it from Mount Gausta and its surrounding mountains for almost six months of the year. Now residents and visitors will be able to see a 600m2 ellipse shape of light in its town square.
Source: Innovation Norway
The huge mirrors reflect natural light into the town
The mirrors are installed 742 metres above sea level, according to the town's tourist board Visit Rjukan. The installation is made up of three heliostats with computer-driven mirrors that beam the sun's rays into the town by following the sun as it moves. The beams reflect between 80 and 100 per cent of the light they capture. The project cost around £500,000.
The Solspeil is a project that started eight years ago by local artist Martin Anderson, although the inspiration came from the town's founder Sam Eyde almost a century ago.
