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1950's Nuclear Tests Were A Las Vegas Attraction

Time Frame: All tests were conducted between 1951 to 1992.

Location: Nevada Test Site, now referred to as the Nevada National Security Site (and formerly the Nevada Proving Grounds), approximately 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas in Nye County. It is operated by the Department of Energy and covers an estimated 1,360 square miles of desert and mountain terrain.

Number Of Tests: 928. 100 of these tests were detonations in the atmosphere which produced mushroom clouds visible in Las Vegas and California. The remaining 828 tests were conducted underground.

Effects: Las Vegas experienced noticeable seismic effects, visible mushroom clouds and bright flashes on the horizon. As a result, the tests became tourist attractions with the best views coming from downtown hotels.

Magnitude: From 1951 to 1955, tests conducted ranged from less than one kiloton up to considerably less than 100 kilotons. (A kiloton is equal to 1,000 tons of TNT.)