The town of Rjukan is picturesque, nestled among the rugged mountains of Norway, and this has led to an extraordinary phenomenon – the mountains will cast a black shadow over the town.
For several months each year, Rjukan will experience a lack of direct sunlight due to its unique geographical location. This fascinating event has earned Rjukan the title of “town without the sun”.
Sunlight is one of the essential natural conditions for human life. They are not only a source of light, but also a measure of time, an energy source for plants as well as a certain impact on the health of the human body.
“Shadow” by Rjukan
Rjukan’s lack of direct sunlight is a result of its location – the town is located in the Vestfjord valley, surrounded by towering mountains. These mountains blocked the path of sunlight during the winter months.
From late September to mid-March of the following year, Rjukan is always in darkness, or rather, in the shadow of the mountains, which prevents the inhabitants of the town from getting direct sunlight. The shadow that falls from the mountains over the town is like a clear demonstration of the power of geography in shaping people’s daily lives.
Throughout its history, the townspeople of Rjukan have lived in the shade of the surrounding mountains. It was not until 2013 that this town was able to install giant mirrors at a height of 450m on the surrounding mountains to catch sunlight reflecting down on residential areas.
The town of Rjukan was founded by Sam Eyde in the early 20th century as a center of hydroelectric power generation. The steep slopes are ideal for harnessing the energy of the region’s abundant waterfalls, which have led to the development of hydroelectric power plants, and it has played an important role in Norway’s industrial growth. .
However, the mountains that provide the energy also create a natural barrier, robbing Rjukan’s sunlight for several months each year.
The lack of direct sunlight poses significant challenges for the residents of Rjukan. It affects their physical and mental health, limits outdoor activities and impacts crop growth and agriculture.
A constant lack of direct sunlight during the winter months can lead to feelings of isolation and vitamin D deficiency, exacerbating the likelihood of seasonal affective disorder (SAD, or SAD). also known as winter depression, or winter depression) in the community.
According to “The Guardian”, some Rjukan residents suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) when they become depressed due to prolonged lack of sunlight. This syndrome was first discovered in the 1980s in regions with longer winters than summers such as Iceland or Canada.
Solution to search for sunlight
Aware of the impact of not having direct sunlight, the residents of Rjukan decided to tackle the problem on their own. In fact, the idea of building glass around the town to catch the sun was thought of by Sam Eyde more than 100 years ago, but the techniques and technology at the time could not make this a reality.
It wasn’t until 2013 that an artist named Martin Andersen moved to Rjukan, unable to stand the dull gloom of the town during the day, so determined to ask the local government to install mirrors at a cost. $825,000 to catch the sun.
Andersen’s regular purpose was only to help people get rid of boredom as well as long-term lack of sunshine, but unexpectedly this project changed the whole town when attracting tourists to come here to visit, thereby transforming the local economy.
The effort involved the installation of giant mirrors, known as “sun mirrors”, on the mountainside, which were used to reflect sunlight onto the town.
Around 1905-1916, businessman Sam Eyde bought the waterfall area here to use as a hydroelectric power station and established the town of Rjukan. Aware of the lack of sunlight, Sam thought of setting up mirrors, but due to limited technology, he could not proceed.
The solar mirror project is considered a technological wonder of the modern world, because it requires precise engineering and design. Three large mirrors, about 17 square meters each, were installed on the mountainside.
These mirrors will navigate the movement of the Sun throughout the day, redirecting its rays into the central square of Rjukan. The installation of the sun mirror has also become a symbol of resilience and innovation, attracting tourists from all over the world to come here.
This special sun-catching system, called “Solspeilet” by the villagers, consists of three large computer-controlled mirrors that move in the Sun’s orbit every 10 seconds to maximize the amount of light reflected. into town.
The birth of the Sun mirror had a profound impact on the inhabitants of Rjukan. The town’s central square, once shrouded in darkness during the winter months, is now bathed in sunlight, giving it a warm and youthful feel. The mirrors have become the meeting point of the community, a place to gather, exchange and enjoy the precious moments of sunlight that used to be lost in the winter months. The Mirror of the Sun not only brought light, but also brought a new sense of hope and unity to the people of Rjukan.
