Archive · 27 Jan 2026
Lost US Cold War Base in Greenland Reveals Secrets
A long time ago, during the Cold War, the United States built a secret base called Camp Century in Greenland.
It was a special place under the ice where scientists did important research.
They even drilled a mile down to get ice samples.
But after a few years, the base was too hard to keep up, so they left it.
Now, people are interested in Greenland because of the valuable minerals under the ice.
A scientist named Paul Bierman is studying the old ice samples to learn more about Greenland's past and future.
The base is still buried under the ice, but its story helps us understand why Greenland is important today.
Camp Century was a secret US Arctic research base in Greenland, operational from 1959 to 1966.
The base was powered by a nuclear reactor and housed scientists who drilled a mile down to collect unique ice cores.
It was abandoned due to high maintenance costs and is now buried under the ice.
Greenland's mineral wealth, particularly rare earth minerals, is of increasing interest as the ice sheet melts due to global warming.
Geologist Paul Bierman is studying the rediscovered ice cores to understand Greenland's past and future.
- Who
- American soldiers and scientists, Paul Bierman (geologist)
- What
- Abandoned Cold War research base Camp Century in Greenland
- When
- Operated from 1959 to 1966, rediscovered in recent years
- Where
- About 150 miles inland from Thule (Pituffik), Greenland
- Why
- To conduct Arctic research and collect ice cores, now relevant for understanding mineral wealth and climate change
- Location
- About 150 miles inland from Thule, now Pituffik, Greenland
- Operation Duration
- 1959 to 1966
- Power Source
- Nuclear reactor
- Key Discovery
- Ice cores drilled a mile down
- Current Status
- Abandoned and buried under ice
- Recent Interest
- Mineral wealth, particularly rare earth minerals
- Expert Interviewed
- Paul Bierman, geologist at the University of Vermont
