The small Norwegian town of Rjukan is nestled between two gorgeous mountains. It looks like something out of a fairytale.
Despite its beauty, it has a glaring issue.
From October to March, the town lives in shadows, receiving no sunlight. The mountains are so high that they block the sun from reaching the town below. Talk about winter blues.
For years, locals had to take a cable car up a mountain to catch some rays. One local artist wanted to bring vitamin D back to the town.
In 2013, the “Solspeilet” was built on top of a nearby mountain. It’s made up of three giant mirrors reflecting the sun’s rays down onto the town square.
The area is small but provides much-needed sunlight. Some thought the mirror idea was too extravagant – costing nearly $800,000.
But it has increased tourism to the area and has boosted the town’s income. The mirrors also help ward off Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
And they prove that a little bit of sun goes a long way.
