Emu Atomic Test Site

[loose cannon]

A couple of snaps from ground zero in the Great Victoria Desert near Marilinga.

Found it slightly unnerving to be here, it's supposed to be safe but I got my shots and got out. The desert can be a haunting and lonely place at the best of times but this area sent a chill down my spine. Once visited, never forgotten.








Camera C Site is at the head of the track in to ground zero, about 5km away.

Plenty of dead trees and not much else.

To get here head west from Coober Pedy and drive for about a week to ten days.

[seaslug]

Don't blame you for not sticking around. Thanks for sharing your risk.

[loose cannon]

Cheers Greg. Once out of there I kept driving till the vegetation returned to normal before setting up camp, not so much from the fear of radiation, more just a desire to get away from the place.

[Ironwood]

A stark reminder of just how stupid the human race can be.

Thanks for posting Mick. I don't blame you for not sticking around there any longer than you needed to.

[P Plates]

Not an area to spend days exploring. Scary that even after all that time the landscape has not recovered. As Ironwood said, the human race has over time done some really stupid things.

[Isac]

Great photographic story Mick - nice place to visit but you wouldn't want to live there. I agree with Ironwood and P Plates about the human race but I think most of us mere mortals do our best with what we have, in caring for our planet. I would probably point the finger at many political leaders (but not all), who's egos, power posturing and the wearing of the "Mine's bigger than yours" invisible tag, are the main players in the stupid decision making process. take the latest one by Korea! My question is, when does it end and what does it prove? Did you like that little rant?

[loose cannon]

Thanks for the comments folks.

Good rant Isac!

At least some good came from this nuclear experiment.

For example, all the roads I covered during my desert journey came into existence because of this. It has opened up the inland of this extraordinary continent and made it accessible to anyone who owns a 4wd. Hard to put a money value on that, I'd call it priceless.

[Alan]

Not somewhere I'd like to 'linger'..

but thanks for showing us what it looks like. (I like how you have lined up things with the horizon in #1 & #2 - a subtle touch)

[loose cannon]

Cheers Alan. A place for everything and everything in its place, even for snapshots.

[Alan]

as someone here keeps saying, "It's the little things"...

[Phoenix]

Indeed interesting and a sickening all in one.
Dread to think what pain and loss "testing" has caused.

[loose cannon]

Cheers Jo, scares me to think that these were only toy bombs compared to what's available these days

[Toddyh]

Thanks for sharing Mick. This place and Wittenoom, WA are on my list to visit. Two places ruined by humans. This history of stupidity, for some reason, I find really interesting.

[loose cannon]

Cheers Todd. Haven't been to to town of Wittenoom itself but can guarantee you will be impressed with the Pilbara region. Well worth the long drive.