In a few decades, it may be even less of a mystery.
<img alt="Cold War-era “city under ice” scanned in Greenland” src=”https://img2.wtftime.ru/store/2024/11/26/55OQcN6O.jpg”/>
A NASA research plane explores Greenland’s Arctic ice sheets was found Camp Century, base of the Ice Worm, a secret US project during the Cold War. As part of the project, a system of tunnels was built in Greenland: the result was a “city under the ice”.
The tunnels were intended to be used to launch missiles with nuclear warheads in the event of a war with the Soviet Union. The project began in the late 1950s and was closed in the mid-1960s, with tunnels in the ice forgotten.
We were looking for an ice bed and we came across it [базу] Century Camp. At first they didn’t even understand what it was. But in our new data, the individual structures of the secret city are visible in a way that has never been seen before.
NASA’s research plane was equipped with radar systems that mapped the depth of the ice sheet. The equipment was also able to scan a network of tunnels dug in the ice many years ago; The study shows that the tunnels go very differently.
In total, it was planned to dig about 4 thousand kilometers of tunnels as part of the Ice Worm, but only 3 kilometers of tunnels were built. The center was equipped with a mobile nuclear reactor, and auxiliary buildings such as a store were located under the ice.
It was planned to bury the launch facilities more than 8 meters; a specially shortened version of the Minuteman rocket was designed to be launched from ice. They decided to cancel the ambitious project when it turned out that the ice sheet was much more mobile than expected, and the tunnels would be actively destroyed.
When the plant was decommissioned, the nuclear reactor was dismantled, but waste, including radioactive waste, was not removed. It is expected that in a few decades, due to the melting of glaciers, the waste left at Camp Century will end up in the air.
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**How does the potential environmental hazard posed by Camp Century’s rediscovery underscore the ethical dilemma of balancing Cold War secrecy with future generations’ right to a safe environment?**
## Interview: Beneath the Ice: Rediscovering a Cold War Secret
Hello and welcome to World Today News. Today we’re delving deep into a fascinating Cold War discovery that’s recently resurfaced in Greenland: Camp Century, a secret “city under ice.” Joining me today are Dr. Anya Petrova, a historian specializing in the Cold War, and Dr. Mark Jensen, a glaciologist and expert on the impacts of climate change on Arctic regions.
**Part 1: Unfreezing the Past - Unveiling a Forgotten Cold War Base**
* **Dr. Petrova** , can you tell us about the significance of Camp Century within the context of the Cold War? What was the primary strategic goal behind its creation?
* **Dr. Jensen, how did this vast network of tunnels, effectively a city under ice, manage to stay hidden for so long?** What technological advancements allowed NASA to rediscover it now?
* **Both of you, what are your thoughts on the contrasting aspirations behind this nuclear-ready base and the atmosphere of secrecy surrounding it?** What does this reveal about the political climate of the time?
**Part 2: Melting Secrets – The Environmental Impact of a Buried Legacy**
* **Dr. Jensen, the article mentions that radioactive waste was left behind at Camp Century. What are the potential environmental consequences of this waste being exposed as the glaciers melt?**
* **Dr. Petrova, how does this discovery impact our understanding of the Cold War’s lasting impact on the environment?** Are there other potential hidden sites with similar hazards that require attention?
* **Both of you, given the global concerns about climate change, what lessons can we learn from Camp Century about the long-term consequences of our actions, both militarily and environmentally?**
**Part 3: Ethical Considerations – Balancing History, National Security, and the Future**
* **Dr. Petrova, what are the ethical implications of rediscovering and potentially excavating Camp Century?** How do we balance the desire to learn from history with the potential risks involved?
* **Dr. Jensen, from a scientific perspective, what research opportunities does this rediscovery present?** Are there valuable insights we can gain about the impact of long-term freezing on man-made structures?
* **Both of you, looking to the future, how should we approach sites like Camp Century and other potential Cold War remnants?** What moral responsibility do we have to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself?
Thank you both for joining us today. This discovery serves as a chilling reminder of the Cold War’s enduring legacy and the urgent need to address environmental challenges inherited from the past.
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