When, unexpectedly, in the first half of the 20th century, mankind made a huge leap forward in the arms race, the powerful began to think about self-preservation. And so, one after another, reliable underground bunkers began to appear, designed to keep people unharmed in the event of a nuclear bombardment.
Of course, not all bunkers are declassified, for sure, there are many secret shelters on the planet that only a select few know about. But there are some that are open to the public. They were the ones who entered today's selection - Top 7 largest underground bunkers in the world from among the declassified.
7. Project 816 (China, Chongqing)
The construction of a huge bunker began in 1967 in the body of Mount Shenshan. The total length of the received underground structures is 21 km, the bunker premises are located on 9 levels. In the bunker, you can protect yourself from an earthquake of magnitude 8-9, as well as from a close rupture of a nuclear warhead with a capacity of up to 1 mt.
It was planned to place an arms factory in the bunker, however, it was only 60% completed. In 2002, "Project 816" was declassified, and in 2010 it was opened to tourists.
6. Bunker No. 42 (Russia, Moscow)
The entrance to this bunker is located in the very center of the capital - a few minutes from the Taganskaya-Koltsevaya metro station. At a depth of 60 meters there are 4 tunnels connected by passages. Built in 1956, the bunker was designed to command aviation in the event of an American nuclear strike.
It was possible to spend 90 days in the bunker without problems with air, food and water. Since 2006, the Cold War Museum has been operating in the Tagansky command post.
5. Object 825 GTS (Ukraine, Balaklava)
The facility was built as a submarine factory in 1957-1961. The submarines entered the dock through a 600-meter tunnel dug into the rock.
At the same time, the bunker served as a reliable shelter capable of withstanding an atomic explosion 6 times more powerful than Hiroshima. Within a month, 3,000 people could be hiding here.
4. Greenbrier (USA, West Virginia)
The bunker was secretly built in 1958 to evacuate Congress in the event of a Soviet nuclear strike. Huge bunker with an area of 10,500 sq. meters placed under the popular Greenbrier hotel. For 30 years, disguised US Secret Service personnel kept the hideout on alert.
Since 1992, the bunker has been open to tourists.
3. Hack Green (England, Cheshire)
The bunker was created on the site of an old radar station in the 1960s. The shelter has an extensive communications system, water supplies and even its own power plant.
In 1998, the Cold War Museum was founded in the bunker.
2. Fort Eben-Emael (Belgium, Liege)
This fort was built in 1933-1935 on an area of 75 hectares. And right below it at a depth of 60 meters is a huge bunker designed to rescue 1,200 people.
The bunker has barracks, showers, kitchens, canteens and even a hairdresser.
1. Stalin's bunker (Russia, Samara)
The bunker was built at a depth of 37 m under the building of the Samara Academy of Culture and Art. The asylum was declassified in 1990.
You can go down to Stalin's bunker by elevator or stairs. Up to 600 people could have sheltered here from a nuclear strike. Moreover, many of the premises are furnished with the maximum comfort for those years.
Now a museum is open in the bunker, which displays an exposition dedicated to the USSR and the Great Patriotic War.
