Guantanamo Bay detention camp, Military prison in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba.
The prison sits within Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and consists of several building complexes separated by security fencing and guard towers. The compound includes interrogation rooms, medical facilities, and detainee housing units under constant military supervision.
The United States government opened this detention facility in January 2002 to hold individuals captured during military operations. Since then, several building complexes have been constructed and later closed as the number of detainees has decreased significantly over the years.
The facility functions as a closed military area without access for the public or civilian observers. Visitors cannot enter the grounds, as it is operated exclusively by authorized military personnel under strict security protocols.
The facility is not accessible to civilian visitors and cannot be toured or photographed from nearby locations. All information about the grounds comes from official reports, legal proceedings, or authorized media coverage.
The compound sits on Cuban territory yet remains under United States control through a lease agreement signed at the beginning of the 20th century. This legal arrangement has led to ongoing debates about jurisdiction and the applicability of certain laws.
Location: Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Inception: 2002
Made from material: concrete
GPS coordinates: 19.90250,-75.10000
Latest update: December 2, 2025 20:51
This collection brings together penal institutions that have marked the history of incarceration worldwide through their architecture, detention conditions, or roles in major historical events. From the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, established in 2002 for holding individuals suspected of terrorism, to high-security facilities like Red Onion in Wise County, Virginia, these sites document the evolution of penal systems across continents. Among the institutions transformed into memorial sites, Diyarbakır Prison in Turkey stands out for its conversion into a cultural center and museum since 2019. Its 24 dormitories spread over two floors, its cells, and corridors allow visitors to explore this chapter of Turkish penal history. In Argentina, Mendoza Prison, built in the early 20th century, reflects the prison practices of that era and the development of the regional judicial system. Other facilities remain operational and raise questions about prisoners' rights and incarceration conditions. Gldani Prison in Tbilisi caused national protests in 2012 after images exposing systemic abuses were released, leading to major reforms in the Georgian penal system. Ciudad Barrios Prison in El Salvador continues to function as a correctional center in the eastern region of the country. These sites, spread across multiple continents, provide documented insights into penal practices in various political and social contexts. From Rwanda to North Korea, passing through Colombia and the United States, they help understand the evolution of judicial and correctional systems while raising current issues related to detention and rehabilitation.
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