Lost City of Ice: Forgotten US Military Base Discovered Beneath Greenland
A hidden Cold War relic has been unearthed from beneath the ice of Greenland: a massive, abandoned US military base known as Camp Century. The forgotten city, buried 30 meters under the frozen surface, was discovered by accident during a NASA radar survey of the Arctic region.
The discovery sent shockwaves through the scientific community, revealing a Cold War secret project of astonishing scale. Camp Century was intended to serve as a launchpad for nuclear missiles, a strategic foothold positioned deep within enemy territory in the event of global conflict.
The Birth of “Project Iceworm”
Construction on Camp Century began in 1959 under the cloak of secrecy. Officially, the project was billed to Denmark as a scientific research endeavor, but its true purpose remained hidden. The ambitious “Project Iceworm” envisioned a sprawling network of tunnels and launch silos ensconced within the Greenland ice sheet – a facility three times the size of Denmark itself.
The plan was audacious: to house over 2,000 firing positions capable of launching 600 nuclear missiles towards the Soviet Union. The strategic advantage was clear: a hidden launch platform nestled within the Arctic Circle, undetected and poised to strike with devastating force.
A Hub of Cold War Secrets
Camp Century was more than just a launch site. It was conceived as a self-sufficient city under the ice.
The architectural plans revealed a complex network of tunnels housing living quarters, power generators, and even recreational facilities for the military personnel stationed there. Living within the icy confines, these soldiers were at the尖端 of a global arms race, their mission shrouded in secrecy.
The Frozen City Abandoned
Despite its ambitious scale and strategic importance, Camp Century was short-lived. The harsh polar conditions and the constant threat of ice cave-ins proved insurmountable. Maintaining the tunnels and preventing collapses became a logistical and financial nightmare. By 1967, the US military concluded that the project was unsustainable and abandoned the “city” beneath the ice.
A Chance Discovery
The rediscovery of Camp Century came as a surprise to scientists who were using ground-penetrating radar to study the Greenland ice sheet. When unusual readings appeared on their screens, further investigation revealed the ghostly outlines of the buried city.
The discovery not only sheds light on a forgotten chapter of the Cold War but also presents scientists with new opportunities to study how climate change is impacting the Arctic environment.
A Silent Testimony to the Cold War
Camp Century stands as a chilling monument to the paranoia and technological fervor of the Cold War era. It’s a reminder of the lengths to which nations went in their quest for nuclear superiority, and the risks they were willing to take.
The frozen city, now silent and desolate, serves as a powerful symbol of a global superpower race that thankfully never reached its fiery climax.
What were the long-term goals of “Project Iceworm”?
## Lost City of Ice: A Conversation with Dr. Anya Petrova
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re discussing a truly remarkable discovery – a long-lost Cold War city hidden beneath the ice of Greenland. With us to shed light on this astonishing find is Dr. Anya Petrova, a historian specializing in Cold War geopolitics. Dr. Petrova, thank you for joining us.
**Dr. Petrova:** It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Host:** Let’s start with the basics. What exactly is Camp Century, and how was it discovered after all these years?
**Dr. Petrova:** Camp Century was a top-secret US military base constructed in 1959 deep within the Greenland ice sheet. It was initially concealed as a scientific research facility, but its true purpose was far more ominous. Recently, using radar technology, NASA stumbled upon the remains of this hidden city while conducting a survey of the Arctic region. [[1](https://news.sky.com/story/camp-century-lost-cold-war-city-under-the-ice-rediscovered-by-nasa-13261916)]
**Host:** This discovery has sent ripples through the scientific community and beyond. Can you tell us more about the scale and ambition of this project?
**Dr. Petrova:** The scope of “Project Iceworm,” as it was codenamed, was truly staggering. The plan was to create a network of tunnels and launch silos capable of housing over 2,000 nuclear missiles, making it three times larger than Denmark itself! The aim was to establish a hidden launch platform directly within the Arctic Circle, giving the US a decisive strategic advantage during the Cold War.
**Host:** What are the implications of this discovery?
**Dr. Petrova:** This rediscovery forces us to confront the chilling realities of the Cold War arms race. It underlines the lengths to which both superpowers were willing to go in their pursuit of military dominance, even constructing secret bases under miles of ice. It’s a stark reminder of the precariousness of that era and the potential for global devastation.
**Host:** Thank you, Dr. Petrova, for sharing your insights on this fascinating and important discovery. This is certainly a story that will continue to generate discussion and debate for some time to come.
