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Popular YouTuber Simon Wilson was visiting the picturesque town of Longyearbyen on the coast of Norway when he discovered a strange law.
The Mirror writes about it.
He landed in the icy conditions of the Norwegian island and discovered that there has been a law for decades, according to which the locals are not allowed to die.
In an effort to learn more about this law, he spoke with a local resident, Marcus, to try to find out exactly what it means for the town's residents. Marcus said: "There is no old people's home here, and of course there have been cases where people have died here, but in general, if someone is too old or unable to take care of themselves, they are not allowed on the island."
Trying to understand how the local government enforces this rule, Simon wondered how the policy was being implemented among residents. "The local government has a register of who is how old, who is working and who is not," Marcus replied, adding that most locals start leaving the island when they turn 70.
While some may be confused by the law, their reasoning is based on science, as Christian Meyer of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology explained. He said: “The reason for this is that the permafrost not only keeps your buried remains from decomposing and pushes them to the surface – it can also perfectly store the disease that killed you for the locals to pick up later. If it appears that you are about to expire, everything possible will be done to send you to the mainland.”
A strange rule regarding death is attracting people's attention, but it is not the only special rule that the locals must follow. Since 2012, the law has required anyone traveling outside the community to carry a firearm because of the threat posed by polar bears.