April 27, 2006

Balaklava

Balaklava, Russia -- not a place you or I would have visited in the last 50 years or so and here is the reason why. From Fun Mansion:
Until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 Balaklava was one of the most secret towns in Russia. 10km south eas of Sevastopol on the Black Sea Coast, this small town was the home to a Nuclear Submarine Base.

Almost the entire population of Balaklava at the time worked at the Base, even family members could not visit the town of Balaklava without good reason and identification. The base remained operational after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 until 1993 when the decommissioning process started and the warheads and low yield torpedos were removed. Then in 1996 the last Russian Submarine left the Base, and now you can go on Guided tours round the Cannel System, Base and small Museum, which is now housed in the old weapons stowage hangers deep inside the hillside.
Twenty-two very cool photos including these three:
underground_submarine_base_5.jpg

underground_submarine_base_11.jpg

underground_submarine_base_21.jpg
Very cool stuff -- would not mind taking the tour myself... Posted by DaveH at April 27, 2006 10:30 PM
Comments
Post a comment









Remember personal info?