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International Nature Preserve: Difference between revisions
International Nature Preserve (view source)
Revision as of 15:12, 6 September 2022
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The Northern Wilderness Area encompasses roughly the northernmost third of the preserve. The area is primarily arctic permafrost with some tundra areas in the south and east. It is the natural home to many arctic and tundra animals and some limited flora. It is the hardest part of the preserve to access as tourist activity here is prohibited. Human activity in the Northern Wilderness Area is limited to remote recordings of animals with some advanced {{Wp|Hunting blind|blinds}} designed for mid-term human habitation allowed. Observation blinds in the Northern Wilderness Area are limited to no more than four personnel at a time. The area is subject to polar day and night. | The Northern Wilderness Area encompasses roughly the northernmost third of the preserve. The area is primarily arctic permafrost with some tundra areas in the south and east. It is the natural home to many arctic and tundra animals and some limited flora. It is the hardest part of the preserve to access as tourist activity here is prohibited. Human activity in the Northern Wilderness Area is limited to remote recordings of animals with some advanced {{Wp|Hunting blind|blinds}} designed for mid-term human habitation allowed. Observation blinds in the Northern Wilderness Area are limited to no more than four personnel at a time. The area is subject to polar day and night. | ||
====International Seed Redundancy Facility==== | ====International Seed Redundancy Facility==== | ||
[[File:Svalbard Seed Vault IMG 4046.JPG|thumb|left|205px|The International Seed Redundancy Facility during polar day.]] | |||
In the northwestern corner of the Northern Wilderness Area sits the International Seed Redundancy Facility. Mostly underground, this large structure serves as secure backup facility for the world's crop diversity. It maintains all agricultural products widely used as well as most types of flora currently known. The Facility provides security of the world's food supply against the loss of seeds in genebanks due to mismanagement, accident, equipment failures, funding cuts, war, sabotage, disease and natural disasters. Constructed between 2018 and 2020, most of the structure sits 500 ft within a sandstone mountain in the preserve. It was designed by [[Urcea|Urcean]] engineering firms to be able to withstand a direct hit from a 200kt nuclear bomb. The complexity and robustness of the site lead to significant construction issues, as all of the equipment and materials had to be flown in via helicopter. Sitting far above sea level and far from major tectonic activity, the area is considered safe from most natural and manmade catastrophes. The seeds are stored in sealed three-ply foil packages and then placed into plastic tote containers on metal shelving racks. The storage rooms are kept at −18 °C (−0.4 °F). | In the northwestern corner of the Northern Wilderness Area sits the International Seed Redundancy Facility. Mostly underground, this large structure serves as secure backup facility for the world's crop diversity. It maintains all agricultural products widely used as well as most types of flora currently known. The Facility provides security of the world's food supply against the loss of seeds in genebanks due to mismanagement, accident, equipment failures, funding cuts, war, sabotage, disease and natural disasters. Constructed between 2018 and 2020, most of the structure sits 500 ft within a sandstone mountain in the preserve. It was designed by [[Urcea|Urcean]] engineering firms to be able to withstand a direct hit from a 200kt nuclear bomb. The complexity and robustness of the site lead to significant construction issues, as all of the equipment and materials had to be flown in via helicopter. Sitting far above sea level and far from major tectonic activity, the area is considered safe from most natural and manmade catastrophes. The seeds are stored in sealed three-ply foil packages and then placed into plastic tote containers on metal shelving racks. The storage rooms are kept at −18 °C (−0.4 °F). | ||
===Central Wilderness Area=== | ===Central Wilderness Area=== | ||
===Southern Preserve Activity Area=== | ===Southern Preserve Activity Area=== | ||