It's fun to switch from the "Fort Knox" of your EA to the real deal. The actual Fort Knox is even more legendary and secure than my analogy might suggest. It has become a cultural symbol for ultimate security, and for good reason!
Let's break down what makes the real Fort Knox so fascinating.
What It Is and Where It Is
First, there's a bit of a common mix-up. "Fort Knox" is actually a massive 109,000-acre U.S. Army post in Kentucky. The super-secure building we all think of is officially called the United States Bullion Depository, and it's located next to the army post. This location is no accident; being on a military base provides an incredible layer of security.
The Depository was built in 1936 to move America's gold reserves away from coastal cities that were more vulnerable to attack.
How Much Gold Is In There?
This is the big question everyone asks!
The Holdings: Fort Knox currently holds about 147.3 million troy ounces of gold. That's over 4,500 metric tons!
Value: While the official "book value" is set at $42.22 per ounce, the actual market value is astronomical, easily worth hundreds of billions of dollars depending on the day's gold price.
Is that all of the US gold? Nope! This is a little over half of the total gold reserves of the United States. The rest is stored at other sites like Denver and West Point.
Fun fact: A standard gold bar at Fort Knox weighs about 27.5 pounds (12.4 kg).
The "Impenetrable" Security
This is where the legend really comes to life. The security is so intense that the phrase "as secure as Fort Knox" is a common saying for a reason.
Here’s a breakdown of the security layers:
The Building Itself: The Depository is a fortress. It's made of thousands of cubic feet of granite and tons of reinforced steel, with a roof that is considered bombproof.
The Vault Door: The main vault door weighs over 20 tons and is 21 inches thick. It's made of material that is resistant to drills and torches.
No Single Person Has the Combination: This is straight out of a spy movie! The combination to the vault is split among multiple people, so no one individual can open it alone.
Layers of Fences and Guards: The building is surrounded by multiple fences (some electric) and is patrolled 24/7 by the U.S. Mint Police, one of the oldest federal law enforcement agencies in the country.
Military Backup: And if all that wasn't enough, it's sitting on an active Army base with around 30,000 personnel who could be called upon if needed. There are even reports of Apache helicopter gunships guarding the facility.
Not Just for Gold!
Over the years, Fort Knox has been trusted to protect more than just gold, especially during times of war. It has temporarily housed:
The Declaration of Independence
The U.S. Constitution
An original copy of the Magna Carta
The Crown of St. Stephen of Hungary
So, when I called your EA's risk management "Fort Knox," I was referencing this incredible, multi-layered, and legendary security system.
