Skrundas lokators, Cold War radar station near Skrunda, Latvia
Skrundas lokators was a Soviet radar complex in Skrunda, Latvia, made up of an 8-story transmitter building and a 19-story receiver tower covered with hundreds of antennas on its roof. Both structures rose far above the flat surrounding landscape and could be seen from a great distance.
The complex was built in 1984 by the Soviet Union to monitor potential missile launches and spacecraft activity over Western Europe. After Latvia regained independence, the entire site was demolished in 1995, marking the end of Soviet military presence on Latvian territory.
In 1994, Latvian rock bands Perkons and Livi performed at a concert called 'Rock Against Skrunda Radar' to protest the Soviet installation. The event took place just before the station was shut down and remains a symbol of Latvian resistance to Soviet military presence on national soil.
The site is now an open field with no remaining buildings, and it is freely accessible to anyone who wishes to visit. There are no facilities on the grounds, so come prepared for an outdoor visit with no shade or shelter.
The facility consumed 80 megawatts of electricity per hour and required 3000 cubic meters of water each day just to keep running. This enormous demand made it one of the most resource-heavy military installations of its kind in the region.
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