The Novaya Zemlya test site in the Arkhangelsk region, where the world's most powerful thermonuclear bomb was tested

The Novaya Zemlya archipelago is the largest and most closed in the Russian Arctic. It is here that our only active nuclear test site is located.

This year, this facility turns 70 years old. At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry recently reported that the central testing ground on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arkhangelsk region is ready to resume nuclear testing if necessary.

It is worth noting that a total of one hundred and thirty nuclear tests were conducted here: eighty-eight atmospheric, thirty-nine underground and three underwater.

Meanwhile, the most famous test was the explosion of the most powerful thermonuclear bomb in stories or, as it was nicknamed, the "Tsar Bomba." The test took place on October 30, 1961.

We are talking about a hydrogen bomb (thermonuclear) with a calculated yield of 100 megatons, which after careful calculations and approvals was reduced to 50 megatons for testing. However, this was enough to make an indelible impression on the geopolitical opponents of the USSR, primarily the USA.

It all happened in the following way. The munition was dropped from a Tu-95 bomber at an altitude of about 10 km, after which a parachute slowed its fall so that the plane had time to move away to a safe distance.

The explosion occurred at an altitude of 4 km above the ground, creating a fireball about 8 km in diameter and forming a mushroom cloud about 64 km high.

The power of the explosion was so enormous that the shock wave circled the globe three times, and the light from the flash was visible at a distance of more than 1000 km. Despite the colossal destructive force, the explosion was airborne and left no traces on the ground.

What is characteristic is that after more than a hundred nuclear explosions, the radiation background at the test site today does not exceed the natural level.

Comments

[Pavel73]

We need an atmospheric test, not an underground one. The underground ones are not impressive. It is necessary that all our opponents, from the very "bottom" to the very "top", in color, in good HD quality, from different angles and distances, clearly see and feel what will happen to their entire Western civilization if they do not stop their attacks on us. Apparently they have forgotten and do not take it seriously anymore.

[Ezekiel 25-17]

From Norway it was clearly visible how they exploded, although the power was about 20 mt, but who's stopping us from repeating it.

[Ascetic]

Quote: Pavel73

atmospheric test.

To hell with it.This is the most dangerous type of nuclear explosion. Until now, radionuclides of cesium-137 or strontium-90 have been observed even among residents of Sweden and Denmark, located quite far from the test sites on Novy Zemlya that were conducted by the Soviet Union.
In 1961, the most powerful explosive device in human history, the AN602 or "Tsar Bomba," was tested at the Novaya Zemlya test site. Its power was 58,6 megatons in TNT equivalent (3333 times greater than the "Little Boy" shell dropped on Hiroshima). The flash was visible as far away as Alaska. The mushroom cloud rose to a height of 67 km.
Then the seismic wave circled the globe three times, penguins in Antarctica jumped, as the testers joked then.
The release of radionuclides beyond the testing grounds and mass illnesses among the civilian population are the results of ground and air nuclear explosions.
The safest ones are- Underground nuclear explosions
There are only two buts. First, something could go wrong and radioactive substances could reach the surface immediately after the explosion. Second, after an underground nuclear explosion, what is officially called a "special radioactive waste disposal site" is created underground. In the long term, this radioactive waste could end up in the environment - on the surface, where we live.
The best thing is not to carry out tests at all, even underground ones.

[Horatii]

Quote: Pavel73

It is necessary that all our opponents, from the very "bottom" to the very "top", in color, in good HD quality, from different angles and distances, clearly see and feel what will happen to their entire Western civilization

Absolutely right. And now is the time for a lesson.

[Aleks24lion]

I read in the tester's memoirs about a polar bear who decided to swim over a future underwater nuclear explosion. His condition after the explosion is also described. It is on the Internet. This post is written for adequate participants in the discussion of new tests.

[Pavel73]

Quote: Ascetic

The best thing is not to carry out tests at all, even underground ones.

Well, someone should explain to our Western partners that they shouldn’t bring us to this.

[Ascetic]

Quote: Pavel73

Who would explain to our Western partners that they shouldn’t bring us to this?

They know this very well, there is no need to explain anything to them. The Americans' nuclear weapons are physically and morally obsolete, they need modernization, and for this it is desirable to resume practical tests, and that's it. provoke us to take the first step.
No simulation of nuclear explosion processes on any super-powerful computers will give sufficiently accurate results. The ammunition can be tested without the presence of fissile materials in it, which will show the degree of readiness for use, but will not answer the question about the real destructive characteristics of the new weapon. Only actual tests can show whether a new nuclear weapon can explode at all and what physical characteristics it will produce when it explodes.

[Stardock]

Asket, do you want to make another action movie?
An airplane is flying. Humanity is on it. A terrorist has mined the airplane and makes a demand:
A million dollars, a villa in the Bahamas with a large plot of land, and no police within a kilometer.

[Horatii]

Quote: Ascetic

The Americans' nuclear weapons are physically and morally obsolete, they need modernization, and for this it is desirable to resume practical tests, so they are provoking us to take the first step.

I would see it as useful not to resume testing in violation of the agreements, but to detonate a demonstration weapon with the ammunition currently in service, so that those who have managed to forget what it is, would suddenly remember it. Somewhere in neutral waters closer to, say, Norway.

[Starover_Z]

Quote: Horatii

detonating a demonstration with the ammunition in service, so that those who had forgotten what it was would suddenly remember it. Somewhere in neutral waters closer to, say, Norway.

The Swedes and Finns rushed to NATO even without these tests.
Now they are in full swing building more American bases there...
It is simply necessary to say directly to all Europeans, without any hints, that when NATO countries begin military operations against Russia, all military bases will be attacked, and not with fly swatters!

[Stardock]

Old Believer. NATO has approximately 6 times more aviation than the VKS.

[Starover_Z]

Quote: Stardock

Old Believer. NATO has approximately 6 times more aviation than the VKS.

NATO and the US have tons of Tomahawks and other missiles in their navies. It will be hard to butt heads with everyone.

[Stardock]

It is necessary to negotiate while maintaining one's own dignity.
So why do they respect tiny countries in Europe that don't have their own air force or navy - Switzerland, Monaco, Andorra, Liechtenstein.
It's not about the number of guns.

[guest]

Quote: Stardock

It's not about the number of guns.

And in the amount of money.

[Stardock]

Is that bad? The money is not spent on guns that will be destroyed by a drone tomorrow, but on trees and fountains that will last a hundred years.

[guest]

Quote: Stardock

trees and fountains that will stand for a hundred years.

They won't last even a day if all this is bombed.

[Stardock]

Guest, can I ask you a question? Are you a former military man or a current one?

[guest]

Whether or not I have a military education does not change the fact that without weapons for protection, all of this can easily be destroyed.

[Stardock]

Guest, I didn't ask about your education. I asked about your occupation. I see, you're a contract soldier. Sergeant.

[guest]

Quote: Stardock

I see, you are a contract soldier. Sergeant.

If the question is am I in the SVO zone now, then the answer is no. I just don't understand how this is related to what we discussed here?

[Stardock]

I try to determine what kind of person is talking to me based on the text of the comment. I train myself.
This has no direct relation to the topic of discussion.
I hope I haven't offended you in any way.

[guest]

I am not a professional military man, I hope the issue is resolved.

[Stardock]

The question is completely closed.

[solombala - argali]

A response like "I'm not eligible for conscription."

[Stardock]

Russian and NATO nuclear bombs explode in exactly the same way.
Both over Berlin and over St. Petersburg.
Who is intimidating whom?
Anyone interested in taking a look?
You can even try to take a selfie. The main thing is to get closer.

[staer-62]

No need for any tests for the sake of warning, the situation is such that it is necessary to immediately conduct a "test" on the enemy. Stop infecting your land. In the English Channel it would be ideal.