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Judi Lynn

(160,545 posts)
Thu Oct 24, 2013, 03:40 PM Oct 2013

Norwegian town uses mirrors to create “second sun” in dark winters

Norwegian town uses mirrors to create “second sun” in dark winters
Written by
Staff Reporter
October 24, 2013



Norway has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, but during the winter months many places in the northern Scandinavian country only get a few hours of sunlight each day.

To combat the depression that comes with not seeing much sunlight during winter months, the Norwegian town of Rjukan, about 160km west of Oslo, has installed three giant mirrors to reflect a beam of light onto the town’s square giving the illusion of a “second sun”.

The installation of the mirrors, called heliostats, came from Viganella, a town in northern Italy, which already has a similar system installed and was designed by artist Martin Andersen and reportedly cost 5 million NOK (£523,400).

Previously people had to get a cable car to the mountain tops to get some extra sunlight, but the town’s tourist board hopes that the sunlight in the town square will mean more community activities throughout the winter.

http://descrier.co.uk/technology/2013/10/norwegian-town-uses-mirrors-create-second-sun-dark-winters/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=norwegian-town-uses-mirrors-create-second-sun-dark-winters

(Short article, no more at link.)

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Norwegian town uses mirrors to create “second sun” in dark winters (Original Post) Judi Lynn Oct 2013 OP
Video: Let there be light... Norwegian town finally feels sun’s heat Judi Lynn Oct 2013 #1

Judi Lynn

(160,545 posts)
1. Video: Let there be light... Norwegian town finally feels sun’s heat
Thu Oct 24, 2013, 03:42 PM
Oct 2013

Video: Let there be light... Norwegian town finally feels sun’s heat

Giant mirrors erected to send sunlight to town during long, dark winter

Wed, Oct 23, 2013, 11:17

First published:Wed, Oct 23, 2013, 10:51

A Norwegian town is set to emerge from the shadows this winter thanks to three giant mirrors which will send much needed sunlight to long-suffering residents.

The town of Rjukanis is situated at the bottom of a narrow valley where the sun doesn’t shine during the long Nordic winter. However, it will be shades and vitamin D all round when the mirrors are switched on later this month.

Local artist Martin Andersen lead a campaign to fund the three giant mirrors to reflect the sun’s rays from the mountain top, into the town square.

They’ve just been installed and tested, and are about to be turned on for the winter.

More:
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/video-let-there-be-light-norwegian-town-finally-feels-sun-s-heat-1.1570380

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