REAL LIFE NEWS: BASKING IN THE REFLECTING SUN
by Hazed
Winter draws in, the days get shorter, and sunshine is in short supply. Where I work in the heart of London’s financial district, the skyscrapers which house the engines of capitalism shield the streets from what little sunlight there is.
How much worse it must be if you live in a deep valley surrounded by mountains. Such is the life of the people of Rjukan in Norway, where for six months of the year the town is in shadow even at midday.
But now relief has come to the townsfolk, thanks to some giant mirrors which reflect the sunshine from the mountaintops down onto the main square.
When the mirrors were first deployed at the end of last month, the people of the town celebrated. Children in sunglasses cheered, grown-ups sipped cocktails on sun loungers and some played volleyball. A band played “Let the Sunshine In” and everyone was happy.
The idea of using mirrors to bring sunlight to Rjukan was first considered over 100 years ago, but technology didn’t exist to make it happen. Instead, a cable car was installed which the town’s inhabitants used to go to the top of a nearby mountain to get a bit of winter sun.
In the 21st century the mirror project was revived, spurred by the example of an Italian village, Viganella, which installed a similar sun mirror. A combination of public investment and private sponsorship raised the money needed – 5m Norwegian krona ($851,000) – and the project got underway.
Three mirrors have been placed on a mountain about 450m above the town centre, brought in by helicopter. They are controlled by computers which tilt them to follow the course of the sun, ensuring light is reflected down upon the town throughout the day.
Now that really is a marvel of modern technology!
