The Malan Base, located in the heart of the "Sea of Death," is renowned for its unique name, which derives from a hardy wild grass symbolizing hope that shines even in extreme environments.
Although the "Malan Base" is a little-known secret location, it has a story that has shocked the world.
From the successful detonation of the first atomic bomb in 1964 to China's last nuclear test in 1994, tens of thousands of base personnel and technicians have silently contributed, known as the "Malan People."
These unsung heroes created their own brilliance on this desolate Gobi Desert.
Due to the special nature of their work, their achievements have seldom been reported for a long time, only gradually surfacing to the public years later.
The song "Malan Ballad" vividly records the story of the "Republic's Atomic City," Malan.
Before it became a nuclear test base, this land had no name and was merely a barren Gobi Desert.
Initially, the candidate site for the nuclear test was Dunhuang, but over time, the final choice fell on the Lob Nor area as the experimental site.
By the 1950s, China had not yet possessed strong weaponry, and the shadow of nuclear intimidation loomed over the nation.
To address this issue, it was decided in relevant meetings to begin the development of nuclear weapons.
Faced with this daunting task, researchers not only had to start from scratch but also had to ensure the successful detonation of the atomic bomb, which required finding a sufficiently wide and desolate experimental site.
In the search for a suitable location, experts traveled across the country, including Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, and Qinghai, until Soviet experts decided to set the test site in the northwest of Dunhuang.
However, after in-depth discussions, the plan to choose Dunhuang was shelved for three reasons:
First, the Dunhuang area is home to the famous Mogao Caves, and nuclear tests could cause irreversible damage to this cultural heritage;
Second, Dunhuang lacks water, and the thick loose soil would make it easy for dust from explosions to cause pollution;
Finally, the size of the experimental site was too small to meet the developmental needs of China's nuclear industry.
Thus, the site selection team turned their attention to the Lob Nor area, about 100 kilometers from Dunhuang, eventually choosing the experimental site in the Bayingol Mongol Autonomous Prefecture.
This site covers more than 100,000 square kilometers, is remote with sparse population, has water sources, and is not located in an earthquake zone.
Once confirmed, it was named "Malan," as its surrounding saline lakes contrast beautifully with the blooming Malan grass.
With the progress of base construction, numerous experts and scholars gathered here, and after the efforts of over 100,000 people, on October 16, 1964, at 15:00, China’s first atomic bomb was detonated in Lob Nor, with a yield of 22 kilotons of TNT, shocking the world.
For the staff at the Malan Base, this day marked the beginning of their struggle's history in this wilderness.
Today, with advancements in technology and improved detection methods, scientists have discovered brine layers over 100 meters deep in Lob Nor, rich in potassium sulfate and other minerals.
The potassium salt resources in this land account for about 30% of the country’s total, with reserves reaching 2.5 billion tons.
Extracting these minerals requires continuously pumping brine from underground, ultimately forming a large salt lake, revitalizing Lob Nor and showcasing its former glory.
Since 2000, several companies have established factories here, continuously conducting exploratory experiments, and gradually developing into the world's largest manufacturer of potassium sulfate fertilizers.
In 2018, this factory produced over 1.7 million tons of potassium sulfate, injecting vitality into Xinjiang's GDP development, nourishing vast agricultural lands, and becoming an important pillar of economic growth.
Today, Lob Nor has transformed from the "Sea of Death" into a modern factory, with over 3,000 employees and comprehensive living facilities, including dormitories, canteens, and activity centers.
The living conditions and work environment for employees have significantly improved. It is believed that in the near future, this once lifeless zone will transform into a city full of hope.
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