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All Trinidad and Tobago Abandoned Radar Base in Trinidad

Abandoned Radar Base in Trinidad

This giant Cold War satellite dish has become a symbol of Trinidad's need for sovereignty.

Trinidad and Tobago

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Abandoned Radar Base in Trinidad   LaTortueNoire / Atlas Obscura User
Abandoned Radar Base in Trinidad   LaTortueNoire / Atlas Obscura User
Abandoned Radar Base in Trinidad   LaTortueNoire / Atlas Obscura User
Abandoned Radar Base in Trinidad   LaTortueNoire / Atlas Obscura User
Abandoned Radar Base in Trinidad   LaTortueNoire / Atlas Obscura User
Abandoned Radar Base in Trinidad   LaTortueNoire / Atlas Obscura User
Abandoned Radar Base in Trinidad   LaTortueNoire / Atlas Obscura User
Abandoned Radar Base in Trinidad   LaTortueNoire / Atlas Obscura User
Abandoned Radar Base in Trinidad   LaTortueNoire / Atlas Obscura User
Abandoned Radar Base in Trinidad   LaTortueNoire / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In the 1960’s, during the Cold War, the USA deployed inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in the Western Hemisphere to prevent any Russian attacks. 

It was during this tense time that the US also developed the Early Warning System to get a jump on any imminent missile attacks before they were able to reach American soil. The radar station built in Trinidad near Chaguaramas was one of the first stations built in the monitoring network. The installation was finished in 1958, and the site had been chosen since the area had already been leased by the British to the USA since the early 1940’s to construct a naval base. The Chaguaramas radar station operated until 1971, but as it had been built without warning the local authorities, the abandoned remains continued to be important as a symbol of the Trinidadian fight for sovereignty.

Today the empty structures on the site retain a gloomy movie-like atmosphere when the day is misty, but it makes a great place for star gazing when the night is clear. Despite its scientific, historic, and social relevance to the area there are rumblings that the site will be demolished to make room for hotel space. Unfortunately there is no early warning system to defend against the inexorable roll of commercial development.  

 

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Abandoned Military History Cold War Military

Know Before You Go

Up the hills of Tucker Valley, close to Maqueripe Bay : on your way to Maqueripe Bay, take the road on the right heading to the Bamboo Cathedral, then walk all the way up the hill.

Community Contributors

Added By

LaTortueNoire

Edited By

michelle, hrnick, ionaswitchblade, aribrown...

  • michelle
  • hrnick
  • ionaswitchblade
  • aribrown
  • shawpitts

Published

August 11, 2014

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Sources
  • http://trinigirlblue.blogspot.com/2008/04/tracking-station-at-macqueripe-brief.html
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaguaramas,_Trinidad
  • Personal knowledge, lived there at the time. My edit clarifies that the station tracked missiles only. It did not deploy them. I omitted the second sentence of the first paragraph.
Abandoned Radar Base in Trinidad
Trinidad and Tobago
10.742816, -61.608195

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