The Mirror Project

this coming winter, the Norwegian town of Rjukan will have one bright spot: a town square illuminated by sunlight bounced off giant mirrors placed atop the town's neighboring mountains.

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.

A computer located in Rjukan's main town hall office will operate the solar-powered system, which continually monitors the movement of the sun and calculates the optimal positioning of the German-made mirrors to keep the square—which the city plans to turn into a skating rink—bathed in sunlight. The project will set the Norwegians back 5 million kroner (about $835,000), but 80 percent of the funds will come privately and the system will run primariy on solar and wind power.

Sam Eyde, co-founder of the Norwegian industrial behemoth that bears his name, originally wanted to place mirrors on the mountains nearly a century ago. But he lacked the technology, so built a cable car in 1928 instead. That route has proven to be a popular escape from the dark city ever since. But now, Norwegian officials say, "the square will become a sunny meeting place in a town otherwise in a shadow."

After initial clearing of trees and pouring of a concrete foundation, helicopters delivered the mirrored panels in mid-July. The first real test of the system comes in September when the angle of the sun begins to put Rjukan in the shadows, which lasts until March. Those five-plus months may seem more bearable now thanks to one at least in the town square.

Follow Tim Newcomb on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.

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