The Arctic explorers locked down in the Svalbard archipelago
Updated
7:43 AM EDT, Fri May 22, 2020
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Arctic lockdown: Adventurers Hilde Falun Strom and Sunniva Sorby have spent close to nine months in remote Bamsebu, situated in Norway's Svalbard archipelago, as part of the Hearts in the Ice expedition.
Courtesy Hearts in the Ice
Ambitious expedition: The duo are the first women in history to "overwinter" in the Arctic without a male team member.
Courtesy Hearts in the Ice
Temporary home: They've been staying in this wooden hut, which was originally built in the 1930s and used by whalers.
Courtesy Hearts in the Ice
Canceled pick-up: Strom and Sorby are unable to leave the isolated location due to global travel restrictions.
Courtesy Hearts in the Ice
'Citizen scientists': They spend their days collecting weather and wildlife data as well as monitoring clouds, sea ice and organisms.
Courtesy Hearts in the Ice
Raising awareness: Strom and Sorby launched the Hearts in the ice project with the aim "to engage a global community in the dialogue around climate change and what we can all do."
Courtesy Hearts in the Ice
Back to basics: The pair have been using solar power and windmills for electricity during their expedition and collecting logs to use for fires during the winter.
Courtesy Hearts in the Ice
Extended stay: The duo have chosen to stay until September in order to continue their work.
Courtesy Hearts in the Ice
Strange times: "We could never have imagined when we started this voluntary self-isolation, that the whole world would be in an involuntary isolation," says Sorby.
Courtesy Hearts in the Ice
Staying put: Although they're looking forward to eventually reuniting with family and friends, both women feel they're "more useful" where they are.