6. The Dark Legacy of ‘Project Iceworm’
During the Cold War, the U.S. Army initiated Project Iceworm, a clandestine plan to construct a network of nuclear missile sites beneath Greenland’s ice sheet. The project aimed to position missiles capable of striking the Soviet Union, enhancing the U.S. strategic position. To test feasibility, Camp Century was established in 1959 as a cover project. However, unstable ice conditions led to the project’s cancellation in 1966, and the base was abandoned, leaving behind hazardous waste, including radioactive materials and chemical contaminants. These pollutants remain buried under the ice, posing environmental risks as climate change accelerates ice melt, potentially releasing these toxins into the environment (theatlantic.com).
