The Svalbard Global Seed Vault
A seed store built into a mountain on Spitsbergen
Where the vault sits
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is built inside a sandstone mountain, in a man-made tunnel on Spitsbergen. The Global Crop Diversity Trust operates it. The vault is a secure underground facility capable of storing millions of crop seeds.
Measured from the North Pole, the vault is about 1,307 kilometres (812 miles) away, and it lies on Spitsbergen.
- 1,307 km (812 miles)Distance from the North Pole
- 1 metreWall thickness
- 2 of eachAirlocks and blast-proof doors
- Over 750,000Seed types held
Site, construction and protection
Construction of the vault began in 2006 at a site outside Longyearbyen. Remoteness, sound geology and the temperature of the permafrost were among the factors behind the choice of site. The seeds are protected by steel-reinforced concrete walls that are 1 metre thick. The surrounding permafrost keeps the vault below the freezing point of water, and the vault has two airlocks and two blast-proof doors.
Purpose and holdings
The vault is meant as a safety net in case biological diversity held in traditional genebanks is lost by accident. The seed bank opened in 2008 and holds over 750,000 different types of seeds. A study found that most major food crop seeds could be kept in the vault for centuries.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Construction start | 2006, at a site outside Longyearbyen |
| Opening year of the seed bank | 2008 |
| Seed types held | Over 750,000 different types |
Flights to Svalbard
Scandinavian Airlines flies from Svalbard Airport to Tromsø and Oslo every day. Norwegian Air Shuttle covers the Oslo route three or four times each week. Between the settlements on Svalbard there are no roads, so snowmobiles, aircraft and boats carry travellers.
| Operator | Route | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Scandinavian Airlines | Svalbard Airport to Tromsø and Oslo | Daily |
| Norwegian Air Shuttle | Oslo to Svalbard | Three or four times a week |
Entry and airport status
Svalbard Airport carries out no passport control, and exit checks are made in Oslo or Tromsø. Anyone who needs a Schengen visa must hold it for the journey through mainland Norway to Svalbard and back. Operations there have been without international status from October 2017 onward, so foreign aircraft may not use the airport, with Russian aircraft as the exception.
Svalbard context
Warming on the archipelago since 1971 has been about five times faster than the global average. Across the 1991–2020 averages, the average daily mean summer temperature falls between 4 and 7 °C.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Warming since 1971 | About five times faster than the global average |
| Average daily mean summer temperature | 4 to 7 °C (1991–2020 averages) |
| Svalbard Treaty | 1920, recognises Norwegian sovereignty |
Frequently asked questions
How far is the vault from the North Pole?
It is about 1,307 kilometres (812 miles) from the North Pole.
Who operates the Svalbard Global Seed Vault?
The Global Crop Diversity Trust runs the vault.
When did the seed bank open?
The seed bank opened in 2008. It now holds over 750,000 different types of seeds.
How thick are the vault walls?
The walls are steel-reinforced concrete and 1 metre thick.
Is passport control carried out at Svalbard Airport?
No passport control is carried out at Svalbard Airport. Exit checks are performed in Oslo or Tromsø.
Is a Schengen visa needed for travel to Svalbard?
Those who need one must hold it for the mainland Norway leg of the trip, both to and from Svalbard.
Can foreign aircraft use Svalbard Airport?
Foreign aircraft are not permitted to use it, and Russian aircraft are the exception. Operations there have been without international status from October 2017 onward.