Okay, now hold up – this is wild!
Imagine a place where you can wander in without a visa, but you can’t give life or end it. Yep, Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago sitting a chilling 1,300 kilometres from the North Pole (where Santa allegedly chills in his spare time), has been keeping it weird forever.
This is your “did you know” moment, chappies bubblegum style.
Travel influencer Radhika Nomllers recently visited and reminded the world just how unique this icy patch really is. On Instagram, she shared the ultimate eyebrow-raiser: “Did you know that dying and being born are not allowed in the world’s northernmost village?”
She wasn’t joking.
With limited hospital facilities in Longyearbyen, pregnant women are shipped off to mainland Norway before late-stage pregnancy because heaven forbid a birth complication happens 1,300km away from proper medical help (that’s about 16 hours by flight, FYI).
As for death? Sure, people die, but Svalbard doesn’t do long-term burials. The permafrost preserves bodies almost indefinitely, turning graves into eerie frozen time capsules. Residents who pass away naturally are sent back to Norway.
So, yeah, better pray you don’t have a premature baby or anything else that needs serious medical attention while chilling at the top of the world.
In winter, it’s pitch black 24/7; in summer, the sun never sets.
The influencer also pointed out the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a literal “end-of-the-world” bunker storing seeds to survive wars, climate collapse, and natural disasters.
Take that, Elon Musk! Average humans can also dig holes underground!
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But Svalbard isn’t just extreme nature and icy tombs. Thanks to the Svalbard Treaty of 1920, more than 50 nationalities live here visa-free. It’s like a small civilisation at the edge of the world.
Free entry sounds fun, but residency rules are strict: if you can’t support yourself, authorities can politely show you the exit.
Oh, and life here comes with its own survival manual: carry a rifle outside (polar bears are everywhere). Living in Svalbard isn’t exactly a “grab your suitcase and go” kind of vibe.
Polar bears are basically your nosy neighbours, so if you step outside, you’d better be packing a rifle or at least something that says, “I do not want to be lunch.”
The environmental rules are strict. Littering, disturbing wildlife or pocketing a cute little rock is a no-no. Camping, hiking or boating requires following regulations to the letter. The Arctic ecosystem may be breathtaking, but it’s fragile, and Svalbard doesn’t mess around.
Building here is another level of challenge. The ground is permafrost, which means construction is tricky. Special permits are needed just to put up a cabin or tweak the land, and old structures are constantly monitored. One misstep and your house could sink faster than you can say “midnight sun.”
Getting around is limited too. Roads are basically suggestions, so boats, small planes, or snowmobiles are the main modes of transport. Emergency services exist, but they are scarce, meaning self-reliance is mandatory.
Drama is optional, but surviving this place is dramatic enough.
