Buzz
There are countless secret and off-limits destinations across the globe that remain unknown to most, or are simply beyond our reach. This list explores ten of the most notable spots on Earth that are either completely closed off to the public or practically unreachable for ordinary people.
10. Mezhgorye
Mezhgorye is a restricted town in Russia, believed to house personnel involved in highly classified operations at Mount Yamantaw. Established in 1979, this settlement sits at the foot of Mount Yamantaw, which rises 1,640 meters (5,381 feet) and is the tallest peak in the southern Urals. Alongside the distant Kosvinsky Mountain (600 km to the north), the United States has long suspected these locations of harboring a major secret nuclear facility or bunker. U.S. satellites have even detected large-scale excavation activities as recent as the late 1990s, during Boris Yeltsin’s pro-Western administration after the fall of the Soviet Union. Two military bases, Beloretsk-15 and Beloretsk-16, were constructed atop the facility. Despite repeated inquiries from the U.S., Russian authorities have given several conflicting explanations, ranging from claims of mining operations to assertions that the area serves as a treasure vault, food reserve, and even a bunker for high-ranking officials in the event of nuclear conflict.
9. Vatican Secret Archives
Although often referred to as secret, the Vatican Archives are not truly hidden. Anyone can request access to the documents, but you can’t just walk in. Requests for specific documents must be submitted, and they will be provided. Contrary to the sensationalized claims in Ron Howard and Dan Brown's *Angels and Demons*, there are no banned scientific theories or forbidden masterpieces in the collection. The only materials off-limits are those under 75 years old to safeguard sensitive diplomatic and governmental data. A catalog of documents is available for those curious to see what exists. The Vatican Secret Archives stretch an impressive 52 miles (84 km) of shelving, with 35,000 volumes in the selective catalog alone.
8. Club 33
Despite popular belief, Disneyland actually holds a full liquor license, which is used for private events after the park closes to the public. However, one place in Disneyland always serves alcohol: Club 33. Situated in the New Orleans Square area, Club 33 is a private members-only club that remains a hidden gem within the park. Its entrance, located next to the Blue Bayou Restaurant at '33 Royal Street,' is easily identified by an elegant plaque bearing the number 33. Membership fees range from $10,000 to $30,000, and joining comes with access to a parking space. If you wish to become a member, be prepared to wait in line for up to fourteen years.
7. Moscow Metro-2
Metro-2, a rumored secret underground subway system in Moscow, is said to run alongside the public Moscow Metro. Allegedly constructed during or around Stalin's reign and designated as D-6 by the KGB, its existence has never been confirmed or denied by Russian authorities, including the Federal Security Service (FSB) or Moscow Metro administration. It is believed that Metro-2 stretches further than the public system, with four lines reportedly running as deep as 50 to 200 meters. The system supposedly connects key locations like the Kremlin, FSB headquarters, Vnukovo-2 airport, and even an underground city at Ramenki. As no official confirmation has been made, visiting this secret metro is nearly impossible.
6. White’s Gentlemen’s Club
White’s is one of the most prestigious gentlemen’s clubs in England, founded in 1693 by Italian Francesco Bianco (Francis White). Originally established to sell hot chocolate, it evolved into an exclusive and highly private social club. Renowned for its ‘betting book’, where members engage in eccentric wagers, such as betting £3,000 on which of two raindrops will slide down a window first, White’s remains infamous for its male-only membership. Women are entirely excluded, and men can only gain access if invited by a current member who has the endorsement of two others. Unless you are royalty or a powerful figure in politics or the arts, an invitation to this exclusive club is unlikely.
5. Area 51
Area 51 is a well-known name for a secretive military base located in the southern part of Nevada, around 83 miles (133 km) north-northwest of Las Vegas. The base, centered around Groom Lake, serves as a test site for experimental aircraft and weapon systems. The extreme secrecy surrounding Area 51, which the U.S. government barely acknowledges, has made it a hub for conspiracy theories and UFO folklore. The sign displayed warns that deadly force may be used against anyone who ventures into the restricted zone.
4. Room 39
Room 39, also known as Bureau 39, is considered one of the most secretive organizations in North Korea, dedicated to generating foreign currency for Kim Jong-il, the Chairman of the National Defense Commission. Established in the late 1970s, it is regarded as a core part of North Korea’s ‘court economy,’ which revolves around the Kim family's control. The exact origins of the name remain unclear. Due to its secretive nature, very little is publicly known about Room 39. However, it is widely believed that it operates using numerous bank accounts in China and Switzerland for activities such as counterfeiting, money laundering, and other illegal operations. There are also rumors linking the organization to drug trafficking and illicit arms deals. Room 39 is known to oversee 120 foreign trade companies and is directly controlled by Kim Jong-il. Despite various allegations, North Korea denies any involvement in criminal activities. The organization is thought to be located within a building of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea.
3. RAF Menwith Hill
RAF Menwith Hill is a British military facility with links to the global ECHELON surveillance network. The base is home to a massive satellite ground station, serving both as a communications interception point and a missile warning site. It is considered the world’s largest electronic monitoring station. The facility functions as a ground station for several satellites managed by the US National Reconnaissance Office on behalf of the US National Security Agency. The base, with its distinctive white radome antennae, is thought to be a component of the ECHELON system. Initially set up during the early 1960s to monitor Soviet and Eastern Bloc military and diplomatic communications during the Cold War, ECHELON is believed to now also intercept data related to terrorist activities, drug trafficking, and political and diplomatic intelligence. Additionally, it has been accused of being involved in commercial espionage, and it is suspected of intercepting all telephone and radio communications in host nations, a serious invasion of privacy.
2. Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center
The Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center is not just a highly restricted location; it is a place many hope they’ll never have to visit! Often depicted in “end-of-the-world” films, it is portrayed as the final refuge for US government officials and select individuals seeking to survive a catastrophic event. The Mount Weather facility is the real deal. Established in the 1950s during the Cold War, it continues to function as a “last-resort” sanctuary today. Its operations remain classified for obvious reasons. Managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Mount Weather is already operational, with much of the US's telecommunications routed through it even in smaller, local disasters.
1. Ise Grand Shrine
The Ise Grand Shrine in Japan, actually consisting of over 100 individual shrines, is considered the holiest site in the country. This sacred destination is devoted to Amaterasu, the Sun goddess, and has been in operation since 4BC. The main shrine is said to house one of the most significant artifacts in Japan's imperial legacy: the Naik? (the sacred mirror from Japanese mythology, eventually passed down to the first emperors). Every 20 years, the shrine is demolished and rebuilt in adherence to the Shinto belief in the cycles of life and rebirth (the next rebuild is scheduled for 2013). This makes it one of the most inaccessible sites, as only a priest or priestess — a member of the Japanese imperial family — is allowed entry. Therefore, unless we have a Japanese prince or princess visiting the shrine, the rest of us will only glimpse the thatched roof of the Ise Grand Shrine.
