Buzz
Modern history is filled with mysteries. In some cases, cities have been constructed in secret, shielded from the public eye for various reasons.
When a nation requires clandestine experiments or needs a secure location to carry out sensitive operations, they have the means to build entire cities out of sight. From subterranean facilities to vast urban areas concealed in remote deserts, here are 10 cities that were once kept hidden from the world.
10. Oak Ridge
In 1943, as World War II raged on, the Allies were focused on creating the one weapon they believed could end the war once and for all: the atomic bomb.
Located 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Knoxville, Tennessee, Oak Ridge was a bustling hub of workers, soldiers, and scientists. This city wasn’t listed on any map, though, because it was the secret home of the Manhattan Project, one of WWII’s most tightly guarded secrets. Workers had no idea what they were really working on and were even required to undergo lie detector tests.
The federal government acquired over 60,000 acres of land around Oak Ridge to guarantee enough space for the project’s needs while keeping it hidden from enemy spies. Oak Ridge's purpose was to process uranium ore to create nuclear weapons that would shape the 20th century.
9. City 40
City 40 (also known as Ozersk) is another nuclear-related secret location. It was here that the Soviet nuclear weapons program began in 1946. With approximately 100,000 residents, this city boasted better supplies and a higher standard of living compared to much of the rest of the country. However, it was completely removed from maps, and the identities of its inhabitants were erased from all official records.
The hidden truth behind this 'closed city' is that it has been the site of numerous nuclear accidents, including one catastrophic event that ranks only behind Chernobyl in terms of severity.
This location remains active to this day, with citizens still employed there, barbed wire fences still surrounding the area, and a significant portion of Russia’s nuclear materials stored within. Strangely, the people who live there are known to genuinely appreciate their city and lifestyle, despite being fully aware that they are residing in what is often referred to as the 'graveyard' of the world.
Today, the residents are free to leave if they choose, but many choose to stay, preferring to live their lives in one of the most radioactive places on Earth.
8. Los Alamos
Los Alamos, located in New Mexico, is famous for its critical role in the Manhattan Project. It served as the main site for the project and remains the most notable location associated with it.
Often referred to as 'The Hill,' Los Alamos was the true birthplace of the atomic bomb and was kept under strict secrecy throughout the war. The entire town was isolated, with residents unable to disclose any information about their work to even their closest family and friends. The entire community even shared a single post office box.
When a baby was born, the birth certificate simply listed 'P.O. Box 1663' as the place of birth. Over 5,000 people lived in this hidden city, all collaborating on a mission that few of them fully understood.
The location was selected for several reasons: its ideal size, much of it already owned by the federal government, and its proximity to the ranch of Director J. Robert Oppenheimer, who was very familiar with the area. The land that would become this secret city was originally home to a boys' school, which was conveniently willing to sell.
By the end of 1942, the construction of the site that would eventually produce 'Fat Man' and 'Little Boy' was well underway, hidden from both the public and enemy spies.
7. 404
This vast secret city was also erased from maps, kept concealed from the outside world, and was used for the creation of nuclear weapons. However, this time, it was for the Chinese.
Some sources claim the city housed nearly a million people, while others estimate the population at around 100,000. Given China’s population at the time of over 600 million, the higher estimate could well be accurate. However, it is unlikely that China will ever officially reveal the true number of residents.
Construction of the city began in 1954. The government handpicked people from all walks of life to help China compete with the United States and the Soviet Union for global supremacy.
Situated in the Gansu province of northwest China, on the outskirts of the Gobi Desert, the city was built in just four years. It took another six years to reach the goal of establishing China as a nuclear power. In 1964, China successfully carried out its first nuclear weapons test in the desert, reshaping global politics forever.
6. Hanford/Richland
Located in Washington State, this is the third and final secret city associated with the Manhattan Project. Its primary focus was the production of plutonium. It also played a crucial role during the Cold War in supporting the United States’ ongoing nuclear program.
This city is notable for being in use throughout the Cold War and for being the most advanced of the three Manhattan Project sites in terms of power production capabilities. However, in its early stages, numerous complications arose as the power supply began to dwindle over time. This issue led to the discovery of xenon poisoning, where neutrons were absorbed and disrupted the chain reaction needed to produce weapons-grade plutonium.
5. Wunsdorf
Known by nicknames like 'Little Moscow' and the 'Forbidden City,' Wunsdorf became the main base for the Red Army in postwar East Germany. It had originally served as a Nazi military installation.
Wunsdorf was home to an estimated 60,000–75,000 people, mostly soldiers, and served as a stronghold for the Soviet Union's power projection in East Germany for decades. It featured regular train routes to Moscow and a significant military buildup, prepared for any escalation if the Cold War turned into open conflict.
Established by the German Empire in 1871, the location was home to Germany's first mosque, originally serving Muslim prisoners before becoming the headquarters for the German Armed Forces in 1935.
Today, the city lies in ruins, its decaying structures overseen by a statue of Vladimir Lenin, standing as a stark reminder of its complex and tumultuous history.
4. Camp Century
A relic from the Cold War, this U.S. military base was part of the covert operation known as Project Iceworm. Situated beneath Greenland, the site began as a simple scientific research facility. However, as tensions with the Soviets grew, the need for secure missile launch sites led to the base's expansion.
This hidden city beneath the earth was fully equipped to sustain its inhabitants for an extended period, with everything from a cinema to a chapel.
The objective of Project Iceworm was to utilize the vast network of tunnels beneath Camp Century as a mobile nuclear launch facility, allowing missiles to be launched at the Soviets from any of the numerous launch bays scattered throughout the 4,000-kilometer (2,500 mi) tunnel system.
3. Sarov
Sarov remains one of Russia's most secretive 'closed cities,' known for being a significant producer of the country's nuclear arsenal to this day.
This city earns its place not because it's another closed-off location, nor for its isolation from the public for many years, nor even because it was erased from maps in 1947 and only recognized again in 1994.
Sarov (formerly known as Arzamas-16) stands out because it houses one of the country's most significant religious landmarks, an 18th-century monastery, right alongside the city's nuclear industry.
This odd pairing has recently attracted considerable attention from the Russian Orthodox Church, which is working to revive the monastery despite the challenges that would prevent pilgrims from accessing the site.
The monastery was once the home of one of Russia's most famous saints, St. Seraphim, who is celebrated for his teachings rooted in love and compassion, a sharp contrast to the city's modern nuclear focus.
2. Burlington Bunker
Beneath the peaceful town of Corsham, England, lies another concealed city, this one designed not to destroy, but to endure a nuclear apocalypse.
In the event of a nuclear conflict, 4,000 senior government officials would be able to take refuge and wait out the nuclear winter in the vast 35-acre Burlington Bunker complex.
This subterranean city is equipped with everything necessary for survival, from a radio station to a hospital, even an underground lake, ensuring a constant water supply for the bunker.
As if that weren't enough, the facility boasted its own rail line for rapid access in case of the 'four-minute warning'—the time it would take for Russian ICBMs to strike the UK.
Decommissioned in 2004, the site has been open to the public on several occasions and was even listed for sale at a surprisingly low price of £1.5 million in 2016.
1. The Closed Cities
The Soviet Union boasted numerous closed cities like City 40, though not all achieved the same level of fame.
The closed cities differ in their degree of secrecy. Some were widely known but had certain areas restricted, while others were entirely concealed. Some have evolved into normal cities today and have even been selected as host cities for the World Cup. Others, however, remain crucial to Russia's national security.
These sites number in the dozens, scattered throughout the Russian Federation and former Soviet territories. By 2001, the Russian government confirmed the existence of at least 42 closed cities.
The vastness of Russia, the isolation of its rural areas, and the oppressive rule of the Soviets were key elements that allowed many of these locations to remain concealed for such an extended period. Many believe that there may still be undiscovered cities that we may never learn about.
