An embarrassing discovery in Greenland for NASA, which did not expect to uncover one of the United States’ best-kept secrets

NASA discovers a secret American military base buried under the ice of Greenland.

During a flight over Greenland in April 2024, NASA scientists made a discovery that is likely to raise some questions in Uncle Sam’s country: the remains of a city hidden under the ice, known as of Camp Century ! This Cold War-era military base, located under around 30 meters of Greenland’s ice cap, has been revealed thanks to a radar image captured by Chad Greene aboard a Gulfstream III aircraft.

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Camp Century: A secret mission in an extreme climate

Built in 1959 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Camp Century spanned a network of 21 underground tunnels with a total length of 3,000 meters. Officially intended for scientific research, the base actually hid “Project Iceworm”, a secret plan to store nuclear missiles in ice tunnels for possible strikes against the Soviet Union.

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Ice Challenges and Base Closure

The dynamic and unstable conditions of the ice made the project impractical, leading to the deactivation of the base in 1967. Hazardous materials, including 178,000 gallons of radioactive waste, remain trapped beneath the ice, according to the Atomic Heritage Foundation.

PM-2A: A portable nuclear reactor on site

The site also housed the PM-2A, one of the first portable nuclear reactors, which provided necessary power to the base. Although its main mission is over, Camp Century continues to fascinate scientists and historians.

Scientific discoveries and environmental concerns

Beyond its history linked to the Cold War, Camp Century has left a precious scientific legacy. The soil cores collected were crucial to understanding Earth’s ancient climate. Studying with modern techniques, they reveal that Greenland was once a green region, populated by mastodons and forests.

Advanced radar technology revealing invisible structures

NASA’s advanced radar technology, called Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR), provided unprecedented clarity on the layout of Camp Century during the April 2024 flyby. Like lidar used to uncover Mayan ruins, UAVSAR uses radio waves to penetrate dense surfaces and generate detailed images of what lies beneath.

The implications of Greenland warming

Camp Century remains frozen for now, but melting Greenland ice could expose its buried waste, including radioactive and biological materials, posing environmental risks. This rediscovery offers a fascinating insight into military history and serves as a reminder of the lasting consequences of Cold War-era activities.

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This article explores the repercussions of NASA’s discovery of a secret US military base, Camp Century, buried beneath the ice of Greenland. This revelation sheds light on the hidden efforts and military strategies of the Cold War era, while raising questions about the environmental impacts of melting ice today. The historical and environmental implications of this discovery continue to intrigue and concern scientists and historians.

Source : earthobservatory.nasa.gov

Featured image created using Canva for representational purposes.

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