Facebook Expands ... on Edge of Arctic Circle

Facebook's quest for world domination is taking it to the edge of the Arctic Circle. The company today confirmed that it plans to open a new server farm in Lulea, Sweden—its first outside the US. The city, located just 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle, is a chilly one, which will keep the servers cool, and the area's hydropower facilities will grant Facebook access to renewable energy. The result? Improved performance for European Facebookers, says the company.

"Facebook has more users outside the US than inside," the director of site operations tells the AP. "It was time for us to expand in Europe." Upon its 2014 completion, the data center will consist of three 300,000-square foot buildings, each of which will have 14 backup diesel generators. Facebook is staying mum on the price tag, but city officials had earlier floated a $760 million construction cost. (More Facebook stories.)