“Doomsday” Arctic seed vault

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault – built in the Arctic and designed to protect vital crop seeds against climate change and conflict – has received more than 30,000 new samples from 21 countries


Arctic Circle

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


Cooling system: Keeps vault at optimum temperature of -18C°

-18°C

PERMAFROST
SANDSTONE
75m
25m 80 ft

Portal building: Features glowing beacon

Access tunnel: 130-metre entrance is fully waterproof

Office: Seeds processed

Vaults: Currently safeguarding 1 million seeds from 60,000 crop varieties

Seeds: Sealed in three-ply plastic foil pouches. Permafrost ensures seeds remain frozen


Feb 2008: Seed vault opened by Norwegian government


Sources: Issuu, Reuters, Visit Svalbard 
Picture: Getty Images
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