Svalbard: The Arctic Village Where Birth and Death Are Forbidden

• Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago near the North Pole, prohibits birth and death due to extreme cold and lack of medical facilities.
• Bodies do not decompose in the permafrost, leading to health risks, so burials are not permitted.
• Pregnant women must travel to mainland Norway to give birth, and the seriously ill or elderly must leave the island.
• Svalbard is a visa-free zone under the 1920 Svalbard Treaty, allowing citizens from signatory countries to live and work there.
• The region experiences months of 24-hour darkness and daylight, has more polar bears than humans, and bans cats to protect Arctic birds.

Why It Matters: Svalbard is a unique Arctic settlement where extreme conditions dictate strict rules against birth and death.