What the US Built Under Greenland

Summary: Project Iceworm: The Top-Secret Nuclear City Under the Ice

This video reveals the fascinating and chilling history of Camp Century, a US Army base built entirely inside the Greenland ice sheet during the height of the Cold War. While publicly billed as a scientific research station to test construction techniques in polar conditions, its true purpose was much more dangerous.

The Secret Mission

Behind the facade of Camp Century lay Project Iceworm, a top-secret plan to install a network of 600 nuclear missiles under the ice, within striking distance of the Soviet Union. The base was powered by the world’s first portable nuclear reactor, the PM-2A, allowing it to operate independently in the harsh Arctic environment.

Engineering a City Under Ice

Construction began in 1959 using massive “snow millers” to carve deep trenches, which were then roofed with steel arches and covered with snow. This “cut and cover” technique created a subterranean city complete with living quarters, a chapel, a theater, and hot showers, housing up to 200 soldiers comfortably despite surface temperatures plummeting to -50°C.

The Unstoppable Force of Nature

However, the engineers underestimated the dynamic nature of the ice sheet. The ice was not static; it was viscous and constantly moving. The slow but powerful flow of the glacier began to warp and crush the tunnels, making the base structurally unsound. By 1966, the camp was evacuated and abandoned.

A Toxic Legacy

When the army left, they believed the accumulated snow would bury the camp forever. But with modern climate change and melting ice caps, the toxic legacy of Camp Century—including radioactive coolant, sewage, and diesel fuel—threatens to be exposed and released into the environment, creating a complex geopolitical and environmental challenge today.

Final Thoughts

Project Iceworm stands as a testament to Cold War ambition and the hubris of trying to conquer nature. It serves as a stark reminder that while we can build cities under the ice, we cannot control the planet’s powerful geological forces.

Vocabulary Table

Term	Pronunciation	Definition	Used in sentence
Camp Century	/kæmp ˈsɛntʃəri/	A US Army research base built under the Greenland ice sheet in 1959.	Camp Century was often called “the city under the ice.”
Project Iceworm	/ˈprɒdʒɛkt ˈaɪswɜːrm/	The code name for the top-secret US Army proposal to launch nuclear missiles from Greenland.	The public knew about the research base, but Project Iceworm remained a secret.
Glacier	/ˈɡleɪʃər/	A slowly moving mass or river of ice formed by the accumulation of snow.	The movement of the glacier eventually destroyed the camp.
Viscous	/ˈvɪskəs/	Having a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid; resisting flow.	Ice is viscous, meaning it flows slowly like thick honey over time.
Nuclear reactor	/ˈnuːkliər riˈæktər/	An apparatus or structure in which fissile material can be made to undergo a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear reaction to generate energy.	A portable nuclear reactor provided all the electricity for the underground city.
Decommission	/ˌdiːkəˈmɪʃən/	To withdraw (something, such as a ship or power plant) from service.	The army had to decommission the base when the tunnels became unsafe.
Cold War	/koʊld wɔːr/	A state of political hostility between countries characterized by threats and propaganda rather than open warfare.	This project was a prime example of Cold War military strategy.
Ballistic missile	/bəˈlɪstɪk ˈmɪsəl/	A missile with a high, arching trajectory, which is initially powered and guided but then falls under gravity to its target.	The plan was to hide hundreds of ballistic missiles under the ice.
Cut and cover	/kʌt ænd ˈkʌvər/	A construction method where a trench is excavated and then roofed over.	They used the cut and cover method to build the tunnels quickly.
Radioactive waste	/ˌreɪdioʊˈæktɪv weɪst/	Waste products containing radioactive material.	Thousands of gallons of radioactive waste were left behind in the ice.
Traverse	/trəˈvɜːrs/	To travel across or through.	Supply convoys had to traverse the dangerous ice sheet to reach the camp.
Geopolitical	/ˌdʒiːoʊpəˈlɪtɪkəl/	Relating to politics, especially international relations, as influenced by geographical factors.	The melting ice is creating a new geopolitical tension between the US, Denmark, and Greenland.
Facade	/fəˈsɑːd/	A deceptive outward appearance.	The scientific research was just a facade for the military operation.
Excavate	/ˈɛkskəveɪt/	To make (a hole or channel) by digging.	Huge machines were used to excavate the snow to build the camp.
Portable	/ˈpɔːrtəbl/	Able to be easily carried or moved.	The PM-2A was designed to be a portable power plant.

Vocabulary Flashcards

While-viewing Tasks

Keep these points in mind as you watch the documentary:

Guided Notes

Fill in the blank spaces:

Camp Century was located in .
The base was powered by a portable .
The secret project name was Project .
The ice sheet acts like a fluid.
The camp was abandoned in the year .

Comprehension Questions

What was the public “cover story” for Camp Century?
How did they create the tunnels? (What machine did they use?)
Why is the abandoned camp becoming a problem now?

Embedded Video:

Fill in the Blanks Exercise

1. was built deep inside the Greenland ice sheet.

2. The secret plan to store missiles was called .

3. A huge is a river of ice that is constantly moving.

4. Because ice is , it slowly deformed the tunnels.

5. The base was powered by a .

6. The army had to the base after only a few years.

7. Tension between the US and USSR defined the .

8. A can travel long distances to strike a target.

9. The technique involved digging trenches and roofing them over.

10. Environmentalists are worried about the left behind.

11. Vehicles had to the frozen landscape to deliver supplies.

12. The issue has become because it involves multiple countries.

13. The science station was a for the missile base.

14. Giant snow millers were used to the tunnels.

15. It was the first nuclear power plant ever built.

Extension Activities

Analyze the implications of Project Iceworm with these activities:

Cold War Geography

Look at a polar projection map of the world. Measure the distance from Greenland to major Soviet cities (e.g., Moscow). Explain why the US military wanted missiles in Greenland compared to launching them from the continental USA.

Difficulty:
Medium

Ethics Debate

Debate the following statement: “In times of national security crisis (like the Cold War), environmental concerns should be secondary to military strategy.” One person argues For, the other Against.

Difficulty:
Hard

Engineering Challenge

Imagine you are engineers tasked with building a structure that can survive inside a moving glacier. Brainstorm designs that could flex or move with the ice instead of being crushed. Draw a diagram of your solution.