A remote Cold War relic has been revealed by the accelerating melt of the Greenland ice sheet: a U.S. military installation housing four nuclear bombs, abandoned in 1967. While the existence of the “Camp Century” site was previously known, recent analysis of declassified records coupled with the impacts of climate change have brought renewed attention to the potential environmental and security risks reports indicate. The site also raises concerns about the potential release of other hazardous materials,including PCBs,into the fragile Arctic ecosystem.
Lost and Found: U.S. Nuclear Bombs Unearthed in Greenland
A Cold War-era military installation, hidden beneath the Greenland ice sheet for nearly six decades, has revealed a cache of four American nuclear bombs. The discovery highlights the lasting legacy of Cold War military projects and raises questions about the potential environmental impact of thawing permafrost in the Arctic.
The remote site, known as “Camp Century,” was a top-secret U.S. Army installation built in 1960. It was designed as a mobile nuclear launch facility capable of operating under the Arctic ice. According to reports, the base was ostensibly a scientific research station studying ice core samples, but its true purpose was to conceal nuclear weapons close to the Soviet Union.
The existence of the nuclear weapons at Camp Century has been known for some time, but recent analysis of declassified documents and the accelerating rate of ice melt have brought the issue back into focus. The base was abandoned in 1967, with the weapons left behind, encased in ice. Scientists now believe that as the climate warms and the ice sheet continues to shrink, the site could release radioactive materials into the surrounding environment.
Researchers have been studying the potential consequences of the base’s contents being exposed. A recent study, detailed in Al Jazeera, suggests that while the bombs themselves are not considered an immediate threat, the site contains other hazardous materials, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which could contaminate the surrounding ecosystem.
The discovery of the base and its contents has also sparked renewed interest in “Project Iceworm,” a secret Cold War plan to build a network of underground tunnels in the Greenland ice sheet. a5r5br.net reports that the project, initiated in the 1950s, aimed to create a hidden base from which the U.S. could launch nuclear attacks.
The Greenlandic government has been informed of the findings and is working with Danish authorities to assess the situation and develop a plan for monitoring and potential remediation. The development underscores the long-term environmental and security challenges posed by Cold War-era military infrastructure, particularly in vulnerable Arctic regions.
As global temperatures continue to rise, similar discoveries are likely, potentially revealing other hidden remnants of the Cold War and posing new risks to the environment and human health. Telegraph Egypt adds that the melting ice is revealing a previously unknown chapter in the history of the Cold War.
