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Germany: Soviet-era munitions range now an unofficial wildlife sanctuary
photo by Claudius Prößer (Flickr CC)
The Bombodrom is an area of heath in the former East Germany which was used by the Soviets as a testing ground for explosives during the old days of the Eastern Bloc.
Though some 1.5 million munitions are planted in the grounds of the Bombodrom, the fields now lie fallow and have become home to more gentle activities, like the grazing of endangered moorland sheep. Luckily none have trod on any landmines, but there are some other threats on the wiley, windy moors.
At night, they are herded into an enclosure to protect them from a burgeoning wolf population and white-tailed eagles, cranes, short-eared owls and woodlarks have also migrated here.
–Deutsche Welle
Germany’s government wants the Bombodrom to be a nature reserve, while the local environment minister wants it to be used for wind and solar power. The German military wanted to use it as a bombing range, but protests put a stop to that. Still others would like to see the land become a tourist destination.
Before that is to happen, however, the huge amount of unexploded bombs and grenades must be dealt with. Tourists are notoriously heavier and therefore more likely to explode than wolves, birds and wild sheep. Har har har.
Read more on the Deutsche Welle website.
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