Federico Borella

Photojournalist
 
The sun mirror village
Location: bologna
Nationality: Italian
Biography: Federico Borella is a photojournalist working for QN (Quotidiano Nazionale ), national newspaper in Bologna, Italy. Since 2009 to date—he has also contributed to La Repubblica and L'Espresso Group.  Internationally published ,... MORE
Public Story
The sun mirror village
Copyright Federico Borella 2024
Date of Work Nov 2014 - Oct 2017
Updated Feb 2018
Location rjukan
Topics norway, sun, winter, darkness, light, shade




Located in a narrow valley three hours north-west from Oslo, Rjukan counts 3400 inhabi- tants, who during the cold winter months from September to March, live completely in the shade, as the sun, covered by a 1800 meters high peak, called Gaustatoppen, can't illu- minate the village.


For this reason Martin Andersen, a 40 year old artist, brushing up on an idea of the founder Sam Eyde, considered unworkable at the time due to a lack of technology, sub- mits to the community the intention to put on the top of the mountain three huge solar- powered mirrors, able to reflect the sun light on the town square. The project, called SOLISPEIL, became true in 2013, for the price of 5 millions Crowns.


The town of Rjukan was founded by Sam Eyde between 1905 and 1916, when the com- pany Norsk Hydro decided to start the production of Saltpetre.


The mirrors are located 450 meters above the town, and they reflect a 2000 square-feet circle of light. A solar-powered engine installed behind each mirror follows the sun move- ments during the day to maximize the effect.


Sam Eyde, during the first decade of the last Century, unable to realize something similar, decided to bypass the problem of direct sunlight absence, which also caused depressive disorders and vitamin D deficiency, building a cable car that carried workers and miners on the top of the mountain, so that they could receive the winter sunlight.


Some inhabitants decided to mark on a small notebook the days in which sun reaches the village during winter.


In April, Rjukan celebrate the SOLFEST, the return of sun from behind the mountain, with a costume parade. Often, these dresses are related to the sun or to its absence.
During the parade, the Lord of Sun is elected by the community, he remains in office for one year and keeps the title for life. The Sunborn Child is also elected, a child born near the day in which sun crosses for the first time the mountain edge and shines again on the town.





LinkedIn Icon Facebook Icon Twitter Icon
19,933

Also by Federico Borella —

Story

Yaeyama

Federico Borella / Ishigaki
Story

RelationChip

Federico Borella / Tokyo
Story

Shark Overfishing

Federico Borella / indonesia
Story

That's a WRAP!

Michela Balboni
Story

Of water and people

Federico Borella / missi delta
Story

Five Degrees

Federico Borella / tamil nadu
Story

Women of the sea

Federico Borella / toba japan
Story

Crystal Meth

Federico Borella / Fresno
Story

Indian Summer - Amusement park

Federico Borella / delhi
Story

Living with the attacker

Federico Borella / Agra, India
Story

Aiko: diving to preserve the traditions

Federico Borella / ijikacho
Story

Warabistan - The Kurdish limbo in Japan

Federico Borella / Tokyo
Story

Sheroes - after the acid attack

Federico Borella / Agra, india
Story

The enduring life of a quad amputee veteran

Federico Borella / Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri USA
The sun mirror village by Federico Borella
Sign-up for
For more access