Social Aspect: The Invisible Lives of Invisible Cities
Throughout history, humans have always lived in cities, formed communities, and achieved economic, social, and cultural progress. However, there are corners of the world with cities that don’t appear on maps and are inaccessible to the public.
These “forbidden cities” are closed off to society due to military-strategic importance or secret research. The people living in these cities minimize contact with the outside world, and their lives are under constant surveillance.
To be born in such a city often means a lifetime of isolation. Neither tourists, journalists, nor ordinary citizens can enter these cities. As a result, their residents live a kind of "secret life."
Academic Aspect: The History and Classification of Forbidden Cities
The concept of such cities became widespread particularly during the Cold War. Countries like the Soviet Union, the United States, and China completely closed off certain areas for strategic research, nuclear testing, and weapons production.
These cities are commonly known as “closed cities” or in Russian, “Закрытые города.”
Key characteristics of these cities include:
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Absence from maps or deliberate misrepresentation
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Entry possible only with special permission
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Completely restricted for foreign citizens
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Constant state supervision and silence for residents
Some of the most well-known forbidden cities:
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Zheleznogorsk (Russia)
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Oak Ridge (USA)
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Kantubek (on an island in the Aral Sea, Uzbekistan/Kazakhstan)
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Dikson (Arctic city in Russia)
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Nowshahr (Iran – rumored to be a site for secret nuclear research)
Public Aspect: Real People, Real Secrets
1. Zheleznogorsk – The Missile City (Russia)
Located in Siberia, this city was long referred to by its code name “Sadovaya” on maps. It was involved in nuclear weapons production and space technology development. Access is only possible with a special permit.
2. Oak Ridge – Manhattan Project Hub (USA)
Located in Tennessee, this city was established under the Manhattan Project. Most residents were unaware they were working on the atomic bomb. Though the city is now partially open, some zones remain restricted.
3. North Brother Island (USA)
Located in New York, this island once served as a quarantine center. “Typhoid Mary,” history’s most famous disease carrier, was held here. The island is now completely off-limits and only accessible for government-authorized research.
4. Pripyat (Ukraine)
Evacuated after the Chernobyl disaster, the city was declared a “forbidden zone.” Due to high radiation levels, permanent residence is prohibited.
5. Kantubek – The Biological Nightmare City
Located on Vozrozhdeniya Island in the Aral Sea, this city was a testing ground for biological weapons. During Soviet times, it was used for experiments with plague, anthrax, and other deadly diseases. Abandoned since 2002, it is now a zone of radiation and biohazard.
Research-Oriented Aspect: Statistics and Investigations
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Russia has over 50 closed cities – many of their names are still classified
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The United States has at least 3 officially closed cities and dozens of hidden zones around military bases
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The People’s Republic of China maintains closed or restricted zones, especially in Tibet and the Uyghur region
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According to some reports, more than 2 million people worldwide live in such cities
These cities are often hubs for scientific and technological breakthroughs. For example, the uranium splitting technology developed in Oak Ridge laid the foundation for the entire nuclear energy industry.
Interesting Facts:
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During the Soviet era, the name "Zheleznogorsk" was never written in letters—“Krasnoyarsk-26” was used instead
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Oak Ridge workers were forbidden from discussing their work—even their goodbye letters had to be sealed and handed to superiors
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China applies special control systems for tourists entering Lhasa in Tibet
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Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, also operates as a semi-closed city—citizens cannot move freely, and contact with foreigners is strictly prohibited
Conclusion and Recommendations: Balancing Transparency and Human Rights
While the existence of such cities may be justified for scientific and military security, they raise serious concerns about human rights, transparency, and freedom of information.
Finding a balance between privacy and state security is one of the modern era’s greatest challenges. If these cities play a role in potential humanitarian disasters (such as the development of biological weapons), then international legal bodies must monitor such activities.
Recommendations:
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Strengthen international monitoring mechanisms
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Establish human rights protection systems for residents of forbidden cities
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Ensure access to open scientific data
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Support research and documentaries about historically closed cities
Final Word:
Some places in the world are invisible, but their existence is very real. Forbidden cities are the dark mirrors of our world—where history, science, fear, and secrecy coexist. To understand them is to see the hidden side of humanity.