Slashdot Mirror


Norwegian Town Using Sun-Tracking Mirrors To Light Up Dark Winter Days

oritonic1 writes "During their long, cold winters, the Norwegian town of Rjukan doesn't enjoy much by way of daylight—so the town (population 3,386), installed three giant sun-tracking mirrors to shine a steady light over a 2000 square foot circle of the town square. From Popular Mechanics: 'Call it a mood enhancer. Or a tourist attraction. But the mirrors, which will be carried in via helicopter, will provide an oasis of light in an otherwise bleak location at the center of the 3500-population town. Three mirrors with a total surface area of about 538 square feet will sit at an angle to redirect winter sun down into the town, lighting up over 2150 square feet of concentrated space in the town square. A similar idea exists in the Italian village of Viganella, which has used brushed steel to reflect light since 2006.'"

3 of 143 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I am glad I don't have to do this... by RivenAleem · · Score: 5, Funny

    As someone living in Ireland, I can tell you the lack of seasons isn't restricted to the equatorial areas.

  2. Re:Sam Kinison said it kinda first; but here's min by cold+fjord · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Some people might think it a curse. To them it is home.

    --
    much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
  3. Re:It didn't work out well by necro81 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I just don't get it! So in winter this town is in almost perpetual night? So what the fuck are these mirrors going to reflect moonlight???

    Switch to decaf and chill out. The town is not in perpetual night. At about 60 degrees north latitude, that's impossible. However, because it is situated in a deep valley that runs east-west, it is in the shadow of the surrounding mountains for five months out of the year.

    (This I was able to find out with about 30 seconds' research - about as long as it took for you to dismiss these people as idiots and write your short-sighted post.)