The first nuclear bomb exploded on July 16, 1945 during testing in New Mexico. In 74 years after the first test, more than two thousand nuclear explosions were made around the world. Canadian graphic designer Peter Atwood has shown all the explosions and nuclear tests conducted throughout history on one map.
The map shows explosions and nuclear tests carried out since 1945. Each color represents a specific country. Explosions thundered on every continent except South America and Antarctica. The vast majority of nuclear tests were carried out by two countries: the USA and the USSR.
Let's take a closer look at some of the locations: Proving Ground in Nevada, USA
The Nevada Proving Ground in the southwestern United States is the site of the most nuclear explosions on Earth. In 1951-1992, 928 nuclear weapons tests were carried out on it. Despite the fact that the test site was in the desert, the consequences of the tests were felt for hundreds of kilometers. For example, tourists in Las Vegas have seen mushroom clouds rising over the desert from their hotel rooms.
In 1962, a test called the Storax Sedan caused a huge cloud of radioactive dust that was blown across the United States. This led to an increase in radioactivity all the way to Chicago. The map also depicts 24 British nuclear tests (lilac markers) that were carried out at the Nevada test site.
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Pacific Proving Ground, Marshall Islands
In the Marshall Islands, the United States conducted 106 tests - they are scattered across several atolls (small chains of islands). The first tests of the hydrogen bomb and the Castle Bravo, the most powerful of all US nuclear tests, took place here.
The energy release during the explosion reached 15 megatons, which is 1000 times more than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The explosion led to a strong radiation contamination of the environment, the defeat of hundreds of Japanese fishing schooners, the radiation of the inhabitants of the nearby islands.
Semipalatinsk test site, Kazakhstan
The largest Soviet test site was the SNTP, which was located on the territory of Semipalatinsk in modern Kazakhstan.
456 tests were carried out here, starting with the first nuclear weapon test of the USSR on August 29, 1949, and ending with the explosions in 1991. Today, excursions are held on the territory of the Semipalatinsk test site.
Nuclear test site on Novaya Zemlya
The second test site of the USSR was located on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago.
There were 224 tests carried out, including the Tsar Bomba (1961) - the most powerful hydrogen bomb in the history of mankind with an explosion power of 58 megatons (this is 3000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima).
French polynesia
France is the third country after the USA and the USSR in which the majority of nuclear explosions have occurred.
From 1960 to 1996, 217 nuclear devices were tested in France - most of these tests were carried out in French Polynesia in the South Pacific, and several others in Algeria.
Lop Nor nuclear test site, China
Between 1964 and 1996, the Chinese government conducted 45 nuclear tests at the Lop Nor test site in northern China.
In 2009, scientists conducted research at these locations, suggesting that thousands of deaths in the cities and towns surrounding the site were due to radiation that spread after the tests.
British nuclear tests in Australia
In addition to testing in the United States, in 1952-1957 the British government also conducted nuclear tests in South Australia at the Emu Field and Maralinga test sites.
The latter site was significantly contaminated with radioactive material, which raised questions about the safety of the area and the long-term health consequences of the Aboriginal people living in the area.
Tests of both India and Pakistan
India and Pakistan have tested six nuclear devices in their history.
Although not much compared to other countries on the list, the border between India and Pakistan has been considered the world's hottest nuclear hot spot for over 70 years due to the conflict between the two countries.
Pungeri landfill, North Korea
The most recent country to develop nuclear weapons was North Korea - the DPRK tested its first bomb in 2006.
Since then, the country has conducted six nuclear tests. After the last and largest test in 2017, the North Korean government announced the closure of the Pungeri test site. On May 24, 2018, the landfill was blown up.