Take a Virtual Tour of the ‘Doomsday’ Global Seed Vault on Svalbard Island in Norway

A rare glimpse into humanity’s seed reserve.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, often referred to as the “Doomsday Vault,” is a remarkable facility located on the remote Norwegian island of Svalbard in the Arctic Ocean. It was established in 2008 with the primary aim of preserving the world’s agricultural biodiversity and safeguarding our future food security.

The vault serves as a secure storage facility for millions of seeds from around the globe, acting as a backup for seed banks worldwide. With its unique construction deep inside a mountain, the reserve is designed to withstand natural and human-made disasters, including earthquakes and nuclear war. The surrounding cold Arctic climate provides optimal conditions for long-term seed preservation.

Although the vault is accessible only to a select few a couple of times a year, a virtual tour now grants access to everyone, enabling you to catch a glimpse of the “Doomsday” seed collection hidden deep inside the concrete walls.

You can start the tour below from the entrance, and then traverse the snow-laden interior of the mountain to delve deeper into the fascinating realm of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, where a staggering 1.2 million seeds have been meticulously deposited.

Resembling a majestic concrete “pride rock,” the vault is carved into the imposing Plateau Mountain, standing resiliently amidst the unforgiving surroundings. A portion of the vault lies shielded beneath an astounding 400 feet of rock, while five robust metal doors form a formidable barrier, separating the invaluable collection of seeds from the external world.

Within this secure haven, towering shelves proudly display countless boxes, each encasing seeds nestled within protective aluminum envelopes. The temperature, maintained at a chilling -18 degrees Celsius, diligently preserves this precious and irreplaceable resource.

Contained within the aluminum envelopes are more than 1.2 million samples of plant seeds sourced from various corners of the globe. With each envelope capable of holding 500 seeds, the entirety of the vault possesses an impressive capacity to preserve up to 4.5 million distinct crop varieties.

The rationale behind amassing such a vast assortment of crops lies in the purpose of safeguarding our agricultural heritage. While many countries maintain their own gene banks across the world, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault serves as the ultimate backup for these local reserves, ensuring their protection in scenarios where they might be inaccessible or depleted.

An illustrative instance occurred in 2015 when the vault stepped forward to provide samples to the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, following the loss of usability of an Aleppo seed bank during the Syrian civil war.

Now, 15 years into its ongoing mission, the vault’s collection continues to expand, fortifying the global efforts in preserving vital plant diversity.

“From here in Svalbard, the world looks different. This seed vault represents hope, unity, and security,” says Stefan Schmitz, executive director of the Crop Trust and a co-manager of the vault, in a statement. “In a world where the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, natural catastrophes, and conflicts increasingly destabilize our food systems, it has never been more important to prioritize safeguarding these tiny seeds that hold so much potential to adapt our future food to such global threats.”

Sources: 1, 2, 3