Summary
The Arctic World Archive is an underground vault near Longyearbyen, Norway, that stores important digital data on film to preserve it for hundreds of years. Customers from more than 30 countries have stored various cultural and historical artifacts, aiming to protect them from risks like technology failure and natural disasters.
Key Facts
- The Arctic World Archive is located in a decommissioned coal mine near Longyearbyen, Norway.
- Data is stored on film reels inside metallic envelopes to ensure long-term preservation.
- Over 100 deposits from more than 30 countries include digitized art, literature, and scientific observations.
- The vault's conditions are dark, dry, and cold, ideal for preserving film for centuries.
- The archive was inspired by the nearby Global Seed Vault, which protects plant seeds.
- Svalbard's remote location is considered safe from war, terrorism, and natural disasters.
- GitHub has stored open-source software code in the archive, highlighting its critical role in technology preservation.
