The world is full of treasures. Some lie deep underwater, others are buried underground. But some places hold the most valuable, ancient, and controversial items, and sometimes even the most dangerous people, requiring the strictest security. We may have read about such places in novels or witnessed heroic deeds in films, but there are also places that are inaccessible. They take the concept of security to a whole new level. Let's take a look at some of the most guarded and protected places on Earth today.
1. Area 51, a US Air Force facility in Nevada, is one of the most heavily guarded locations. The base is so well protected that no one without expertise can enter. Even flying over it is prohibited. Its primary purpose remains unknown to the public.
The base's primary purpose is publicly unknown, but there is evidence that it may be used for the development and testing of experimental aircraft and weapons systems considered top secret. The grounds are patrolled by security guards and monitored by CCTV cameras and motion sensors. Signs warning of the use of deadly force have also been posted around the base's perimeter. During the legal battle, President Bill Clinton issued an executive order exempting Area 51 from environmental laws to protect the base's classified operations. It also figures in many conspiracy theories, including the myth of unidentified flying objects (UFOs). (source)
2. Fort Knox in Kentucky is a military outpost housing the United States Gold Bullion Depository, where most of the country's gold is stored. The Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence were also once kept here. The grounds are guarded by 30,000 troops, 300 tanks, and attack helicopters. The structure is fireproof, and the door weighs 20 tons.
The vault is believed to contain approximately 5,000 tons of gold bullion, the Crown Jewels, the Magna Carta, and other important federal documents. It boasts the highest level of security. The structure is constructed of thick granite lined with cement, steel, and fireproofing material capable of withstanding a nuclear attack. The door weighs 20 tons and requires a combination lock, which is changed several times a day by several employees. The area is protected by electric fences, armed guard posts, extensive military support, and attack helicopters. However, not all of its security systems are known, as much of it remains a secret, undisclosed by the US military. (source)
3. The Deltalis data center in Switzerland occupies 10,000 square feet. It is equipped with a nuclear-resistant steel door, an electronic anti-hacker system, and is capable of protecting information from earthquakes and nuclear attacks. The Xapo Bitcoin wallet provides the highest level of security there.
The Deltalis RadixCloud data center utilizes underground bunkers built during World War II. Currently, this 10,000-square-foot facility is located 500 feet underground in the Swiss Alps, inside Granite Mountain. Access requires biometric scanning, a man trap, a highly secure portal, and 30-ton nuclear-resistant steel doors. It is equipped with racks of data storage systems and secure electronic systems capable of protecting data from power outages, hackers, earthquakes, and even terrorist attacks. Inside the center, Xapo's most secure data is stored in a refrigerated chamber, inaccessible to anyone, even over the internet. It is surrounded by steel plates to ensure that an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) doesn't destroy the encrypted data on the equipment. (source)
4. The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a strip of land that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. This area is completely closed to the public, and both sides have fortified it with tens of thousands of landmines, barbed and electric fences, tanks, and thousands of armed soldiers.
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established by the United Nations at the end of the Korean War in 1953. The DMZ, 160 miles long and 2.5 miles wide, is still covered with mines, electric fences, high walls, and more than 100 guard posts manned by 1,000 armed troops on both sides. The Joint Security Area serves as a venue for discussions and negotiations. Approximately two million troops are deployed on both sides. North Korea is known to have 1.17 million soldiers and more than 10,000 artillery pieces to counter South Korea's 690,000 troops. (source)
5. The Vatican Secret Archives is the central repository of all documents published by the Holy See. Access to the 80 kilometers of shelves is restricted to qualified clergy and scholars, and not all materials are available to the general public, creating a sense of secrecy.
Here, "secret" means "private," as the Pope is the sole owner of the archives until his death or resignation. The numerous shelves contain parchments, rare biblical texts, state documents, correspondence, papal ledgers, and other documents accumulated by the Church over the centuries. Entry is permitted only to qualified clergy and scholars with identification cards containing microchips. A letter of recommendation from a recognized institute or a qualified specialist in historical research is required. Access to the archives requires passing through the Swiss Guard. However, not all materials are accessible to the public; for example, documents dated after 1939 are inaccessible, and the section dedicated to the personal files of cardinals since 1922 is closed to the public. (source)
6. ADX Florence is a maximum-security prison in Fremont, Colorado, that houses the most dangerous male inmates, including those involved in the September 11 attacks. It is equipped with numerous motion sensors, Z-blocks, and 1,400 remote-controlled steel doors that allow the prison to be locked down immediately.
Also known as the "Alcatraz of the Rockies," this prison is designed for male inmates requiring the highest levels of security. It occupies 37 acres and is equipped with motion sensors, 24-hour video surveillance, and a panic button that triggers an immediate lockdown. The prison is surrounded by 12-foot-high barbed wire fences and pressure sensors. Z Block has full body restraints built into the beds. The furniture is made of cast concrete. Many inmates are serving life sentences for participating in terrorist attacks, such as the 9/11 attacks, the US embassy bombings, and the Boston Marathon bombing. (source)
7. Iron Mountain in Boston is a high-security storage facility that stores documents, people, property, and information for more than 220,000 clients worldwide. The vaults are guarded by armed personnel, temperature-controlled systems, and powerful industrial dehumidifiers.
The company was founded in 1951 as an information management services company. Once an underground missile storage facility during World War II, today it's a high-security warehouse for the most discerning clients, housing sensitive records, items, and secrets. The data center's areas are protected by traps, biometric access, CCTV cameras, and security personnel. It comprises 1.7 million square feet of storage space surrounded by natural limestone, and the temperature is controlled by powerful industrial dehumidifiers to help remove moisture. Among the most valuable exhibits are the wills of Princess Diana, Charles Dickens, and Charles Darwin, as well as original recordings of Frank Sinatra. (source)
8. The Cheyenne Mountain complex was an underground city built as a command center for the North American Aerospace Defense Force. The bunker was constructed to withstand a 30-megaton nuclear blast, and the buildings were designed to withstand any natural disaster.
The complex was previously used as a defensive bunker and monitored US and Canadian airspace. Built beneath 600 meters of granite, the fifteen-story buildings inside are capable of withstanding the shock wave of an explosion or any natural disaster thanks to the giant springs on which they rest. More than 1,000 springs prevent any of the buildings from shifting by less than an inch. It features integrated 25-ton blast doors and a network of unique filters to prevent chemical or nuclear contamination. It was the only high-altitude defense facility capable of withstanding an electromagnetic pulse attack. Today, it is used for flight training and as a backup center. (source)
9. The Svalbard International Seed Vault is a unique facility in the Arctic, storing 930,000 seed varieties. It features three refrigerated chambers with airlocks at both ends and five levels of locking doors for access to the seeds, ensuring their preservation for centuries to come.
This vault, also known as the "Doomsday Vault," was built in 2008 to create a backup repository for maintaining seed diversity in the world's gene banks. The seeds are stored 390 feet deep inside an ice mountain on the island of Spitsbergen, protected by robust security systems. Inside is a 400-foot-long tunnel with airlocks at both ends, leading to three cold storage chambers, only one of which is currently in use. A thick layer of ice covers the door, indicating the subzero temperatures inside. The seeds are placed in vacuum-sealed silver bags, and the test tubes are stored in large boxes. Between the entrance and the seed vault are five levels of locked doors. (source)
10. The Bold Lane car park in England was the site of illegal activity, leading to increased video surveillance. Access is permitted only with a unique ticket containing a barcode indicating the exact parking location. It is protected by motion sensors, an alarm system with a full blocking mode, and 190 CCTV cameras throughout the area.
Derby City Council, in collaboration with Parksafe Systems, designed a parking facility that ultimately became the safest in the world. Each car is assigned a barcoded ticket linked to a specific parking space. The system uses motion sensors located on the ground beneath the car to ensure the car park is locked at the slightest movement while stationary. The car park is equipped with a sophisticated video surveillance system, including CCTV cameras, a panic button, a computer map of the building, and an operator. (source)
11. The Mormon Church's secret vaults are located beneath 700 feet (about 210 meters) of solid rock in Utah. They contain 2.4 million rolls of microfilm, containing 3.5 billion images of family history records. The vault doors weigh approximately fourteen tons and are capable of withstanding a nuclear blast.
This vault, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), is located 600 feet north of Little Cottonwood Canyon in Utah. Its primary function is the storage, preservation, and reproduction of genealogical records. It consists of a dry, climate-controlled facility and a restoration laboratory. The vault covers 65,000 square feet and contains three long tunnels and four cross-tunnels. The tunnels are lined with steel and concrete, and rows of metal storage cabinets reach 10 feet in height. Two of the vault's main advantages are its secure environment, capable of withstanding intrusion, earthquakes, fires, and any natural disaster, and its ability to serve as a stable storage facility. It also houses numerous church materials. Public admission is restricted. (source)