I Visited the Place Where Dying Is Forbidden — Here’s the Truth Behind It

You are probably wondering how dying can be “forbidden”.

Everyone has to die at some point, as the old saying goes, “nothing is certain except death and taxes”!

I was lucky enough to visit Svalbard on a recent cruise on the Norwegian Star.

Svalbard is a remote Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic. It is famous for polar bears, 24-hour daylight in summer – and its quirky laws.

There is a popular myth that you can’t die on Svalbard, but this isn’t exactly true…

Why People Say Dying Is Forbidden in Svalbard

This story comes from the fact that you cannot be buried in Svalbard, it isn’t that you can’t die there.

Permafrost prevents proper decomposition of bodies, meaning they stay preserved.

The year-round frozen ground prevents organic material from breaking down, preserving bodies in a mummified state.

Scientists fear that ancient viruses and bacteria, such as the one responsible for the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, could be released from the frozen remains, posing a threat to public health.

A law enacted in 1950 closed the local cemetery and established a policy to prevent people from dying in Svalbard.

What Exactly Is Permafrost?

You might be wondering, as I was, what permafrost is.

Permafrost is ground (soil, sediment, or rock) that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years, often much longer.

It acts as a cement holding the ground material together with ice. It is covered by a seasonal “active layer” of soil that thaws and refreezes annually.

Permafrost contains a significant amount of ancient organic matter, and its thawing due to climate change releases trapped greenhouse gases, which can cause land instability and impact infrastructure and communities.

What Actually Happens If Someone Is Seriously Ill

Residents who become terminally ill or are very elderly are usually flown to mainland Norway.

There’s a small hospital in the town of Longyearbyen, but no facilities for end-of-life care.

Longyearbyen is the administrative centre of Svalbard. It is a small Norwegian town with 2,400 residents from nearly 53 different countries.

If someone dies on Svalbard, their body is transported to mainland Norway for burial or cremation.

What This Means for Visitors

These rules usually have no effect on tourists at all. They aren’t going to be stopped at the border with questions about health!

If something were to happen, you’d be evacuated to mainland Norway.

The “no dying” law is really more about long-term residents.

Other Quirky Rules in Svalbard

• Everyone must carry a rifle outside towns and settlements.
  • This is due to the risk of encountering polar bears.
• You can’t be born there.
  • Pregnant women travel to the mainland to give birth, usually to Tromsø.
  • The island’s limited medical facilities mean pregnant women are required to leave for the Norwegian mainland around the 37-week mark to give birth safely.
  • Svalbard isn’t equipped for childbirth, especially in the event of complications, and the closest big hospital is over 1,000 kilometres away.
• Alcohol sales are rationed for locals.
  • There is a monthly alcohol card system that limits the purchase of beer and spirits.
  • This system dates back to the area’s mining history and was implemented to prevent excessive drinking.
  • A card must be stamped each time alcohol is purchased.
• Cats are banned!
  • This wouldn’t suit me at all!
  • Cats are banned in Svalbard to protect the fragile local bird population, as the birds primarily nest on the ground and are highly vulnerable to cats.

All these rules and regulations add to the quirky, extreme character of life in Svalbard!

Svalbard isn’t just about rules though, it’s one of the most unique, fascinating cruise destinations you can visit. I highly recommend it!

I had a fantastic time when I visited. I enjoyed seeing both the landscape and the wildlife. Experiencing life at the edge of the Arctic makes the quirky laws feel like part of the charm.

I saw how the local Sámi people lived, and even went down a coalmine!

Find out how I got on in the video below: (Spoiler alert: I was finding coal dust in my cabin for days afterwards!)

Before You Go:

I had two different cabins (for the first time ever) on my Norwegian Star Norway and Svalbard cruise. Find out why here:

One Cruise, Two Cabins: My Unexpected Favourite (Balcony vs Suite)

Find out why it might be worth considering a smaller cruise line if you are sailing to Norway here:

Why Small Cruise Lines Might Just Offer the Best Norwegian Experience