In 1958, the United States tested the 18-kiloton “Cactus” nuclear device on Runit Island in the Pacific. 20 years later, Cactus’ 350-foot-wide crater was filled with radioactive soil and covered with a 100,000-square-foot concrete dome. Worst vacation ever?
The $239 million Cactus Dome, which is on Runit in the Enewetak Atoll, holds 111,000 cubic yards of radioactive soil and detritus from nuclear testing on the Bikini and Rongelap atolls. The dome was constructed between 1977 and 1980 and is made of 1.5-foot-thick concrete. I suppose you could still drop by, but I can’t imagine the idea of standing on top of a radioactive landfill holds much appeal. There’s no gift shop, for one.
[Via Atlas Obscura and Radiochemistry. Top photo: Defense Special Weapons Agency.]
