Though it may be the most famous, Nevada's Area 51 isn't the only top secret location in the world.
Come with us on a guide through the world's most top secret nuclear bunkers, defence bases and weapons testing ranges.
Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Centre
What: Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Centre
Where: North Korea
Built in 1979 it wasn’t until 1985 that North Korea even declared the existence of this 5 megawatt nuclear reactor.
Since that time UN inspectors have been denied access and claims that it has been closed have circulated, only for it to appear on radars earlier this year when a test rocket was launched from the site.
Pine Gap
What: Pine Gap
Where: Alice Springs, Australia
It’s widely rumoured that many of the 1,000 employees at the Joint Defence Space Research Facility, as it’s officially known, are a mix of Australian military officials and CIA operatives.
Fittingly, the sign on the road outside the facility (which is located near Alice Springs) reads simply: “Turn Around Now”. The shadowy operation is allegedly engaged in military satellite operations but more than that no one will (or can) say.
Al Kibar
What: Al Kibar
Where: Syria, Israel
This is another of those secretive nuclear research plants, this time located inside Syria and rumoured to be the source of a weapons development programme.
In 2007, the Israeli Air Force attacked the site after receiving video footage showing what the facility was being used for and providing worrying links with North Korean nuclear facilities. For their part the Syrians have claimed that Al Kibar was nothing more than a vacant milit
RAF Menwith Hill
What: RAF Menwith Hill
Where: Yorkshire, England
Reportedly, this is the largest electronic monitoring station in the world and it provides crucial intelligence on terrorist activities to both the UK and the USA.
Surrounded by three miles of razor-wire fencing this facility allegedly scans emails, phone calls and faxes for keywords and is so secret it only began appearing on maps recently.
Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant
What: Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant
Where: Iran
Bushehr is another Middle Eastern nuclear facility that would rather keep the extent of its activities under wraps. Suspicion has dogged the plant since it emerged that it was being used to produce nuclear materials that could be used for weapons.
This has led to a struggle between the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and the global community to try and get Iran to submit to full inspections – a struggle that remains ongoing.
Negev Nuclear Research Center
What: Negev Nuclear Research Center
Where: Negev Desert, Israel
Stuck in the middle of the Negev Desert, this nuclear facility was built in 1958 and its existence has still never been confirmed by the Israeli government.
Israel refused to allow access to the International Atomic Energy Agency but have allowed the Americans to inspect.
In 1986 an ex-employee took his story about what goes on at Negev to the media and, if the rumours are true, has since been imprisoned.
Site R
What: Site R
Where: Pennsylvannia, US
Deep within Raven Rock Mountain lies the secret military facility known as Site R. A cool name isn’t the only thing that this place has going for it – it also boasts six stories of underground offices, a self-contained reservoir and gigantic steel doors.
It’s been home to the back-up command centre of the US government since 1951 when it was carved out of the rock. The US government has been cagey about its existence it ever since.
Woomera Prohibited Area
What: Woomera Prohibited Area
Where: Nr Adelaide, South Australia
It would be pretty difficult to keep Woomera Prohibited Area a secret, given that it's roughly the size of England and a major highway runs through it.
However, the largest weapons testing range in the world, located near Adelaide, is still shrouded in secrecy with the test facility area blanketed with restricted airspace and a massive exclusion zone that the public aren’t allowed anywhere near.
Chernobyl-2
What: Chernobyl-2
Where: Ukraine
Chernobyl-2, or the Duga-3 system as it’s also known, is part of the Soviet military’s radar system, which was used for monitoring long-range targets.
For decades the Soviets kept the radar system secret and now it’s unlikely to be the subject of much investigation because it lies in the irradiated “Zone of Alienation” left by the explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear plant in 1986.
Mount Yamantaw
What: Mount Yamantaw
Where: Russia
Located in the Ural mountains lies Mount Yamantaw which means “evil mountains” in the local dialect. The Russians maintain this is nothing more than a mining facility, but suspicions remain that this is a top secret nuclear base.
These suspicions are fuelled by the underground train lines, space to host 30,000 troops and the billions spent on developing a 400 square mile underground complex for the area.
The final Curious © phrase:
“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead”
(Benjamin Franklin)
