Doomsday vault marks decade of protection

Norway is celebrating the tenth anniversary of The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, but scientists are keeping a close eye on the facility after a recent thaw threatened 5,000 crop species stored inside


Svalbard Global Seed Vault
Holds duplicate backup seed samples from 1,700 other genebanks around world, some of which are vulnerable to natural disasters, conflict, lack of funding or poor management


2016: Thaw causes permafrost to melt, sending water into access tunnel

Optimum temperature: -18°C

Arctic Circle

SVALBARD (Norway)
Seed Vault (Longyearbyen)
100km 60 miles


Portal building: Features glowing beacon

Access tunnel

SANDSTONE

PERMAFROST

Office: Seeds processed

Vaults: Currently safeguarding 890,886 samples, from almost every country in world

75m

25m 80 ft


Seeds: Sealed in custom made three-ply plastic foil pouches


Sources: The Crop Trust, Norwegian Government 
Picture: Getty Images
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