Marshall Islands
Bikini Atoll
The Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site comprises the terrestrial and underwater remains of a military system that characterized the Cold War.
Between 1946 and 1958, 23 nuclear devices were detonated at Bikini Atoll by the USA. The local inhabitants were displaced and the tests had major consequences on the geology and natural environment of Bikini Atoll and on the health of those who were exposed to radiation. It was the start of the ‘nuclear era’, the race to develop increasingly powerful nuclear weapons and it gave rise to international movements advocating nuclear disarmament.
Community Perspective: this site has been unreviewed so far, but it can be reached by live-aboard shipwreck dive trips.
Site Info
Official Information
- Full Name
- Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site (ID: 1339)
- Country
- Marshall Islands
- Status
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Inscribed 2010
Site history
History of Bikini Atoll
- 2010: Advisory Body overruled
- ICOMOS advised Referral, to "Draw up an inventory of the land-based properties that contribute to the value of the property; inscribe the most important of these on the national historic sites list;"
- 2010: Name change
- To add "Nuclear Test Site" to the name, on the instigation of ICOMOS during the evaluation process.
- 2010: Inscribed
- Inscribed
- WHS Type
- Cultural
- Criteria
- iv
- vi
Links
- UNESCO
- whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
- whc.unesco.org — whc.unesco.org/
Related Resources
- pressreader.com — Report on a recent tourist canoe trip to Bikini
- dailymail.co.uk — Radiation, climate force Bikini Islanders to seek US refuge
- bikiniatoll.com — Welcome to Bikini Atoll
- bikiniatoll.com — US repatriations for damages to the Bikinians
- rmiembassyus.org — Nuclear issues - a site on the nuclear testing in Bikini and their ongoing impact
News Article
- March 3, 2014 theguardian.com — Bikini Atoll nuclear test: 60 years later and islands still unliveable
- Aug. 4, 2010 yokwe.net — Bikini Atoll in Marshall Islands Chosen as World Heritage Site
- Feb. 20, 2009 timesonline.co.uk — Bikini Atoll submitted for listing as World Heritage Site
Community Information
- Community Category
- Secular structure: Memorials and Monuments
Travel Information
Most Remote Cultural WHS
One thousand visitors or fewer
Takes more than 5 days to visit
Recent Connections
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Most Remote Cultural WHS
hub Majuro, 3 days sailing from there -
Nuclear power
"an outstanding example of a nuclear te… -
Sharks
"particularly high concentration of sev…
Connections of Bikini Atoll
- Geography
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Situated in one of the SIDS
Marshall Islands 2010 -
Isolated WHS
Roughly 2,645 KM from East Rennell -
Uninhabited islands
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Pacific Ocean
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Formerly inhabited islands
Was first evacuated in Mar 1946 for the Atomic Tests which.In June 1968 LBJ promised the islanders that a clean up would enable them to return - this started in 1969. But in 1978 medical examinations identified high radiation levels in the population and another evacuation took place. In 1998 an IAEA advisory group "recommended that Bikini Island should not be permanently resettled under the present radiological conditions. This recommendation was based on the assumption that persons resettling on the island would consume a diet of entirely locally produced food." This remains the situation with Bikinians pursuing law suits against the US for a proper clean up. The atoll remains open with conditions for limited and self sufficient dive and sports fishing tourism -
Micronesia
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Located in a microstate
Bikini - Marshall Islands 181sq kms/62000 -
Atoll
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- Trivia
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Built or owned by Americans
Following the end of World War II, Bikini came under the control of the United States as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands -
Cultural sites taking up an entire island
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Built or owned by Japanese
"In the early 1900's the Japanese began to administer the Marshall Islands.... The Bikini islanders' life of harmony drew to an abrupt close when the Japanese decided to build and maintain a watchtower on their island to guard against an American invasion of the Marshalls." -
Largest cultural WHS
73,500 ha -
Scuba Dive Liveaboard
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- History
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Cold War
"In the wake of World War II, in a move closely related to the beginnings of the Cold War, the United States of America decided to resume nuclear testing in the Pacific Ocean, on Bikini Atol" (unesco website) -
Sieges and Battles
The islands remained relatively unscathed by the war until February 1944, when in a bloody battle, the American forces captured Kwajalein Atoll. At the battle's conclusion, there were only five surviving Japanese soldiers left on Bikini, and they chose to commit suicide rather than allow themselves to be captured.See en.wikipedia.org
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Historical Events
First test of a practicable Hydrogen Bomb Mar 1 1957
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- Ecology
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Sharks
"particularly high concentration of several shark species that are considered threatened including gray reef shark, reef whitetip shark"
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- World Heritage Process
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First sites filling gaps cited by ICOMOS
Nuclear energy 2010 -
First inscriptions
Marshall Islands 2010 -
Only WHS in their country
Marshall Islands
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- Human Activity
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Memories of recent conflicts
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Nuclear power
"an outstanding example of a nuclear test site" (OUV) -
Thanatourist destination
apparentlye there are some tourist facilities (AB ev)
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- Timeline
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Built in the 20th century
Nuclear test site from 1946 to 1958
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- Science and Technology
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Underwater Archaeology
The Atomic Tests resulted in the sinking of a large number of "test ships". Their underwater remains are referred to in the Nomination File and are part of the site's OUV, They have been the subject of underwater archaeological studiesSee www.nps.gov
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- Visiting conditions
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Most Remote Cultural WHS
hub Majuro, 3 days sailing from there -
One thousand visitors or fewer
DD : “Tourist facilities have remained very limited up to now, but some accommodation capacity does exist, particularly on the islet of Eneu, with a set of buildings -
Takes more than 5 days to visit
Visitable by private yachts, or you could join a shipwreck diving tour - the nearest international airport is at Majuro, and from there it takes 3 days at sea.
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News
- theguardian.com 03/03/2014
- Bikini Atoll nuclear test: 60 year…
- yokwe.net 08/04/2010
- Bikini Atoll in Marshall Islands C…
- timesonline.co.uk 02/20/2009
- Bikini Atoll submitted for listing…
Recent Visitors
Visitors of Bikini Atoll
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