Reggane Test Site, Algeria

Reggane Test Site is a test site founded by France in Algeria. It was built in 1960 and looks like a united complex with a huge research centre. Since the beginning, there was equipped a large researching centre and a special town for workers. The first explosion was made there in 1961 and was named “Blue jerboa”. The power of the first bomb was 70 kilotons.

Within several years after the foundation of the test site Algeria has got the independence. That’s why France has to replace its test sites on the territory of Polynesian Islands. There were held four nuclear tests. The next nuclear experiments were named “White jerboa”, “Red jerboa”, “Green jerboa”.

All the names were taken because of the typical inhabitant of the desert area – African jerboa. Notwithstanding that all tests were finished 50 years ago; the level of radiation is still very high. There wasn’t made a special cleaning of the territory after the nuclear tests. The damage that was made to nature is practically not seen. All because this test site was founded in an endless African desert. Next - Fangataufa Test Site