Formerly known as the Svaldbard Global Seed Vault, the Doomsday Vault it serves as the master backup to the world’s other seed vaults. Its stores stand ready to start replenishing the world’s food supply in the event of natural disaster, water shortages, global warming or war.
The vault is dug into the side of Plataberget mountain, near the village of Longyearbyen on a group of islands north of mainland Norway.
It is even guarded by a natural security force, because polar bears roam the icy landscape around the facility. It is illegal to leave the local town without bringing a gun along.
There are more than 100 thousand different types of rice alone in storage. The biggest contributor to the bank is the United States, which is sending 12,801 samples this year.
The unmanned facility holds seeds that will still be viable 20,000 years from now.
The vault can hold 2.25 billion seeds and the natural arctic temperatures keep them preserved.
There are more than 100 thousand different types of rice alone in storage. The biggest contributor to the bank is the United States, which is sending 12,801 samples this year.
The unmanned facility holds seeds that will still be viable 20,000 years from now.
The vault can hold 2.25 billion seeds and the natural arctic temperatures keep them preserved.
SOURCE: [interestingthings]
