Y-12 National Security Complex, Nuclear security facility in Oak Ridge, United States
Y-12 National Security Complex is a nuclear security facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, that covers a large, heavily guarded site. The facility consists of numerous buildings and technical structures separated by fences, checkpoints and monitoring systems.
The site was built starting in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project to produce enriched uranium for military purposes. After World War II, the function of the complex shifted to maintaining and storing nuclear material for national security purposes.
The complex takes its name from the Y-shaped layout of the original facilities and remains part of Oak Ridge's identity as a science city. Many residents in the area work there in technical roles or have family members who have been connected to the site across generations.
The site is not open to the public, and even organized tours are limited to certain areas. Visitors interested in learning more about the history and significance of the place can visit the American Museum of Science and Energy nearby.
During the war, around 22,000 tons (20,000 metric tons) of silver were borrowed from Treasury vaults to wind electromagnetic coils because copper was in short supply. All the silver was returned after the war ended, with only a few grams missing.
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