uz, Kantubek
kaa, Qantubek , image_skyline = Kantubek.jpg , imagesize = 300px , image_caption = , image_flag = , image_seal = , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Uzbekistan , pushpin_label_position = bottom , pushpin_mapsize = 300 , pushpin_map_caption = Location in Uzbekistan , subdivision_type =

Country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while ...

, subdivision_type1 = Autonomous Republic , subdivision_name = , subdivision_name1 =

Karakalpakstan Karakalpakstan, / officially the Republic of Karakalpakstan, / is an autonomous republic of Uzbekistan. It occupies the whole northwestern part of Uzbekistan. The capital is Nukus (' / ). The Republic of Karakalpakstan has an area of , and ...

, subdivision_type2 =

District A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municipa ...

, subdivision_name2 = Moʻynoq District , established_title = , established_date = , government_type = , leader_title = , leader_name = , area_magnitude = , area_total_sq_mi = , area_total_km2 = , area_land_sq_mi = , area_land_km2 = , area_urban_sq_mi = , area_urban_km2 = , area_metro_km2 = , area_metro_sq_mi = , population_as_of= 2020 , population_footnotes = , population_total = 0 , population_urban = , population_metro = , population_density_sq_mi = , population_density_km2 = 0 , timezone = UZT , utc_offset = +5 , timezone_DST = , utc_offset_DST = , coordinates = , elevation_footnotes= , elevation_m = , elevation_ft = , postal_code_type = , postal_code = , area_code = , website = , footnotes = Kantubek (russian: Кантубек, links=no; kaa, Qantubek, links=no) is a

ghost town Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to: * Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned Film and television * ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser * ''Ghost Town'' (1956 film), an American Western film by All ...

on Vozrozhdeniya Island in the Aral Sea. The town is still found on maps but was abandoned in 1992 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It has since been demolished, and there are plans to make the area a national park. Kantubek used to have a population of approximately 1,500 and housed scientists and employees of the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

's top-secret Aralsk-7

biological weapons A biological agent (also called bio-agent, biological threat agent, biological warfare agent, biological weapon, or bioweapon) is a bacterium, virus, protozoan, parasite, fungus, or toxin that can be used purposefully as a weapon in bioterrorism ...

research and test site. Brian Hayes, a biochemical engineer with the United States

Defense Threat Reduction Agency The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is a combat support agency within the United States Department of Defense (DoD) for countering weapons of mass destruction (WMD; chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high explosives). Ac ...

, led an expedition in the spring and summer of 2002 to neutralize what was believed to be the world's largest anthrax dumping grounds. His team of 113 people neutralized between 100 and 200 tonnes of anthrax over a three-month period. The cost of the cleanup operation was approximately US$5 million.

References

Former populated places in Uzbekistan Ghost towns in Uzbekistan Biological warfare facilities Soviet biological weapons program {{ghost-town-stub

See also

References