Nevada played an important role in the testing of nuclear weapons during the “Atomic Age.” The landscape of the state now bears the scars of that activity, sometimes in spectacular ways.
By Federal Government of the U.S/National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office Photo Library via Wikimedia Commons
The purpose of the test was part of a larger program, Operation Plowshare, which sought to investigate the usefulness of nuclear weapons for civilian goals. Some of these goals included mining and cratering to expedite building canals, mines, dams, and highways.
Danny Bradury/Flickr
The radioactive fallout from the test led to the contamination of more citizens than almost any other test in the U.S. One other test from “Operation Tumbler-Snapper” may have contributed more, but it’s difficult to measure.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedan_Crater#/media/File:Sedan_Plowshare_Crater.jpg
Jarek Tuszynski/Wikimedia Commons
The Official CTBTO Photostream’s photostream/Flickr
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ANevada_Test_Site_-_Sedan_Crater_-_10.jpg
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