Military News Today

MEZHGORYE

Where: Russia 
Cost Of Penalty For Visiting: Undisclosed (kept highly secret by the Russian government)

Mezhgorye, also sometimes spelled as Mezhgorya, is a small, secretive town in Russia. This closed town is famous because it allegedly contains a nuclear base. During Soviet Times, Mezhgorya was known as Ufa-105 or Beloretsk-16.

It was granted “town status” in the mid-nineties, and it remains the only closed town within a Russian republic. It belongs directly to the Russian federal government, answering only to top-level government officials who keep the place locked tightly. 

FORT KNOX

Where: Kentucky 
Cost Of Penalty For Visiting: $1,000 or 6-12 months in prison*

Fort Knox is a U.S. Army installation located in Kentucky, and it is famous for being impossible to break into. Those attempting to trespass are subject to stiff fines and jail sentences, and no one has even attempted to burglarise the fortress since 1935.

No visitors are permitted at Fort Knox, which is located next to the U.S. Bullion Depository. Today, Fort Knox houses 143.7 million troy ounces of gold, which is about half of what the U.S. Treasury owns. 

LANGLEY

Where: McLean, Virginia 
Cost Of Penalty For Visiting: $2,500 or 1 year in prison (maximum)*

Langley is an unincorporated town that has become synonymous with secret U.S. government hideouts. Langley, located in McLean, Virginia, is home to the George Bush Center for Intelligence, which is the headquarters of the CIA.

The CIA relocated from Washington D.C. to Langley in the early 1960s, and it has remained there ever since. Though Langley, as a community, is visitable if you’re part of the public, it goes without saying that the CIA headquarters are kept under lock and key. 

AKSAI CHIN

Where: India/China (Disputed Territory)
Cost Of Penalty For Visiting: $500-$1,000*

Aksai Chin is a disputed border area between China and India, though it is primarily controlled by China. Aksai Chin was neglected for years because of its barren, uninhabitable, isolated nature. But, in the 1950s, the Chinese took an interest in the region.

The country’s military built a road through the region to connect Tibet to Xinjiang, something to which India strenuously objected. This kicked off border clashes that began in 1962 and, in some capacity, are still ongoing today.

KOREAN DEMILITAISED ZONE

Where: The Korean Peninsula 
Cost Of Penalty For Visiting: $155 (if South Korea catches you)*

The Korea Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) is a strip of land that crosses the Korean Peninsula. It acts as a border barrier between South and North Korea, separating the two contentious nations. Technically, the DMZ is an active war zone.

The “world’s most dangerous border” might sound like the stuff of a Netflix action-thriller, but it is real. The stretch is isolated, rife with fences and landmines, and North Korea and South Korea exchanged gunfire across the DMZ as recently as 2020.

VATICAN SECRET ARCHIVE

Where: The Vatican
Cost Of Penalty For Visiting: $275 Vatican trespassing fee*

Very few people have access to the Vatican Secret Archive, as only scholars over the age of seventy-five are permitted to study the archives. When they are authoried, academics enter the Vatican Secret Archive through an entryway guarded by the Swiss military.

These scholars can access three pre-requested documents per day, no more. Technically, the owner of this secretive library is the Pope, as he owns it until he either dies or resigns. Then, ownership transfers to his successor.  

AREA 51

Where: Paradise Ranch, Nevada (Formerly Known As)
Cost Of Penalty For Visiting: $2,280*

Area 51 is one of the most popular military facilities in America, thanks to the large number of rumors, urban legends, and myths that surround it. This top-secret U.S. Air Force base is located in Nevada, and everything that goes on there is highly-classified.

Though Area 51 has been the subject of a Netflix movie of the same name, it’s anybody’s guess as to what happens there. Fines and penalties for sneaking into the alien-and-UFO site are steep, reaching well over $2,000 per violator.