Marshall Islands

Bikini Atoll

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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
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
Related Resources
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
Most Remote Cultural WHS
hub Majuro, 3 days sailing from there
One thousand visitors or fewer
One thousand visitors or fewer
DD : “Tourist facilities have remained very limited up to now, but some accommodation …
Takes more than 5 days to visit
Takes more than 5 days to visit
Visitable by private yachts, or you could join a shipwreck diving tour - the …
Recent Connections
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Connections of Bikini Atoll
Geography
  • Situated in one of the SIDS
    Marshall Islands 2010
  • Isolated WHS
    Roughly 2,645 KM from East Rennell
  • Uninhabited islands
  • Pacific Ocean
  • 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
  • Located in a microstate
    Bikini - Marshall Islands 181sq kms/62000
  • Atoll
Trivia
History
  • 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

  • Historical Events
    First test of a practicable Hydrogen Bomb Mar 1 1957
Ecology
  • Sharks
    "particularly high concentration of several shark species that are considered threatened including gray reef shark, reef whitetip shark"
World Heritage Process
Human Activity
Timeline
Science and Technology
  • 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 studies

    See www.nps.gov

Visiting conditions
  • 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.
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…
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