【Forbidden】15 of the World’s Most Restricted Areas

No.13: Svalbard Global Seed Vault (Norway)

Hidden deep within the Arctic Circle on Norway’s Svalbard Archipelago, the Global Seed Vault is a heavily fortified underground facility designed to safeguard the seeds of the world’s most vital crops against global catastrophes. Buried within the permafrost and opened in 2008, the vault now stores over one million seed varieties contributed by more than 100 countries. The entrance, secured by thick concrete tunnels, is monitored around the clock by surveillance cameras and motion sensors, strictly prohibiting entry to unauthorized individuals.

There are no guided tours of this facility. Only selected staff and scientists dispatched by national governments and research institutions are allowed inside. Ordinary visitors can approach no closer than the entrance. Nestled silently in the frigid wilderness, this facility truly stands as a “Forbidden Storage” entrusted with the fate of humanity.

No.12: Mount Athos (Greece)

Mount Athos, located on a remote peninsula in northern Greece, is home to 20 Orthodox monasteries. Since the 10th century, the sacred law of “Avaton” has strictly prohibited women from entering this land. Even male visitors are limited: only a few dozen pilgrims per day may enter, and only with a special permit obtained through prior application. Not only women but even female animals have traditionally been barred from the area—only cats are permitted for rodent control.

As the only place in modern Europe where women are entirely forbidden, Mount Athos was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Although rare cases of women attempting to breach the ban have been reported in the 21st century, the peninsula remains strictly monitored. It continues to serve as a secluded realm of devout prayer, completely detached from the secular world.