Thousands of bunkers are located all over the world. The location of most of them is kept under the strictest secrecy, but some have long been declassified. We tell you about the 5 largest underground bunkers in the world whose secret has been revealed.
The «Sonnenberg» bunker – Switzerland
Besides its stunning nature, chocolate, and cheese, Switzerland is also famous for its bunkers, which are capable of accommodating the country's population in the event of a nuclear catastrophe. In 1963 a law was passed under which every citizen must have a place of shelter in the event of an attack from outside. To cope with this task, the government built more than 300,000 shelters.
Europe's largest shelter is located precisely in Switzerland. The Sonnenberg bunker was built in 1976 beneath a road tunnel leading from Germany to Italy. There is enough room here to accommodate 20,000 people. The bunker has several bedrooms, kitchens, a medical aid station, storage rooms, and even a prison.
The private «Vivos Europa One» bunker – Germany
There are also private bunkers, into which only the select few can get. One such bunker is located in the very heart of Europe. The structure, with an area of more than 300 sq.m., costs several billion dollars. «Vivos Europa One» can withstand chemical attacks, earthquakes, nuclear war, tsunamis, and other natural or man-made catastrophes.
The concrete bunker is located in the town of Rothenstein and can boast luxurious amenities: a gym, a swimming pool, a movie theater, a restaurant, and there is also a kitchen, a bar, bedrooms, and luxurious bathrooms. Here one can live for several years without the need to come up to the surface.
«Bunker-42» – Russia
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The most famous bunker in Russia was built during the Cold War era by a secret decree of Joseph Stalin. In the event of a nuclear attack, around 600 people could take shelter in «Bunker-42», located 65 meters underground beneath Moscow.
Until 2000 it was a restricted facility containing the necessary stockpile of food, medicine, and fuel. After the bunker was declassified, a museum settled in here. Today anyone can set off on an underground tour of the country's top-secret bunker.
«Project 816» – China
More than 60 thousand people – soldiers and engineers – were involved in the construction of this bunker. China's military megaproject was named «816» and was built in the 1960s in the city of Chongqing. The plan was for the bunker to become a shelter for the country's most important people. But that is not all: underground, they wanted to create an entire plant for manufacturing nuclear weapons.
But the plans were not destined to come true. Closer to the 1980s, by decision of the government, construction was halted, and the bunker was declassified in 2002. Therefore, during the tour visitors will not see all the designs realized, but nevertheless the scale of «Project 816» staggers the imagination.
The «Greenbrier» bunker – USA
Photo: greenbrier.com
In 1958, in West Virginia, a secret facility was built where members of Congress could be accommodated in the event of a nuclear attack. Thus the huge Greenbrier bunker, with an area of 10,500 sq. meters, came into being.
It was located right beneath the popular Greenbrier hotel. The bunker has 18 rooms, a kitchen, and a cafe with 400 seats, which was once decorated with artificial windows offering a picturesque view.
Among the other interesting objects located there: a furnace intended for cremating bodies and a stockpile of straitjackets in case the congressmen went mad.
