Platåberget | Svalbard's Mountain of Science and Scenery

SvalSat 

Founded in 1997 and operated by Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), the Svalbard Satellite Station hosts a cluster of enormous dome-shaped structures visible from Longyearbyen below. These spheres protect dish-shaped antennas that communicate with satellites in polar orbits, a position only possible from high-latitude locations like Svalbard. Today, SvalSat is the world’s largest commercial satellite ground station, serving clients including NASA, ESA, Iridium, and the Galileo navigation project. The station transmits weather observations, environmental monitoring data, navigation signals, and scientific research from satellites passing over the polar regions to users around the globe.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault 

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault lies deep inside Platåberget, tunnelled into the mountain’s permafrost to maintain consistently cold temperatures even without power. Opened in 2008, the facility stores over 1.3 million seed samples from gene banks around the world, acting as a global backup for agricultural biodiversity. At full capacity, the vault is designed to hold up to 4.5 million seed varieties, safeguarding crops that sustain humanity.

Visitors to Svalbard cannot enter the vault itself. For security reasons, access is restricted, and guests may only approach the entrance and parking area outside the mountain, located about five kilometres from Longyearbyen. The site sits beyond the settlement zone, meaning polar bear safety precautions are required if travelling there independently.

Those curious about the vault’s interior can learn more at the Svalbard Museum in Longyearbyen, where exhibits and informational displays explain how the facility operates and how seeds are preserved for future generations.

A popular hiking destination

Beyond its scientific significance, Platåberget remains Longyearbyen’s go-to hike for both residents and visitors. Most routes begin at Skjæringa, the area between the church and the power plant, climbing steadily toward the plateau at around 400 metres. The ascent is relatively short but can be steep and rocky in places, and conditions vary widely depending on season, snow cover, and ice.

As with anywhere outside the settlement in Svalbard, hikers must remember that they are entering polar bear territory. Visitors typically explore the area as part of organised hikes with local guides carrying appropriate safety equipment, including rifles and flare guns. Independent travellers should only venture outside town with proper preparation and awareness of current safety regulations.

The effort is rewarded with sweeping views across Adventfjorden, Longyearbyen’s colourful settlement below, and the surrounding mountain ranges of central Spitsbergen. The slopes and valleys around Platåberget are also a good place to spot Arctic wildlife, particularly Arctic foxes, which are occasionally seen moving across the tundra in search of birds or small prey.