At the time of its construction, Camp Century featured the world’s first mobile nuclear generator.
The US government aimed to use the base as a launch site for 600 nuclear missiles, targeting the Soviet Union via a two-mile network of ice tunnels.
Denmark – which owned the site at the time – was not informed of what was happening at the facility.
No one knew Camp Century was a nuclear armed facility.
Even Denmark, which owned the site was unaware of these plans.
A Hazardous Legacy
Today the long-abandoned Camp Century still poses an environmental threat.
Research indicates that “tons” of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), known carcinogens, are trapped within the ice.
A 2016 study published in Geophysical Research Letters warns that global warming could melt the ice within 75 years, releasing these hazardous substances into the surrounding waters.
This potential environmental disaster presents a complex issue for Greenland, Denmark, and the United States.
The Pentagon has stated its commitment to working with Danish and local authorities to address security and environmental concerns.
