Here are a few of the most secure places in the world!
11 - Bank Of England Vault Hidden underneath the streets of London, the
Bank of England's vault has managed to keep safe a fortune in gold worth get THIS: $248
billion dollars!
Holding assets from all over the world, this vault is known for being one of the vaults
with the tightest security.
Considering each gold bar is worth anywhere from around $45,000 to $50,000 dollars, it's
no secret that this amount of money is looked after 24/7.
After all, keeping track of 5,134 tons of gold is no easy task.
The vault was actually built in the 1930's under central London's Threadneedle Street.
To access the vault, employees need to go through a voice recognition software that
requires them to say a password into a microphone which then matches it to a saved voice sample.
High level digital security is not the only method used here: good ol' safety measurements,
such as using several THREE-FOOT LONG keys, are part of the entry procedure.
Motion sensors are also working at all times, so if you're thinking of sneaking in and out
as quick as mouse, think again.
10 - Granite Mountain Records Vault The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
has built a reputation for being very particular.
Not only were they once known to be fond of polygamy, but they’re also enthusiasts of
all things genealogy.
They’re such fans of keeping genealogical records of almost all families in the United
States, that in the 1950's they blew up the inside of Granite Mountain, near Salt Lake
City, to build an impressive archival facility that’s now home to 2.4 miles of microfilm
and three BILLION pages filled with family records.
I mean…….I guess it’s nice to have this stuff physically, but I’m pretty sure we
have things that can be backed up electronically!
Although the LDS Church has been quite open about the records vault, as they have an online
tour on their website, permission to enter this massive mountain of family history is
NOT granted to just anyone.
Being part of the church can't guarantee you access– there are several code combinations
and security scans in place before you can actually enter the facility.
Being the largest record collection of genealogical data requires more than being just a relative.
9 - Parksafe Derby When you think about extreme security locations,
you wouldn't think about a parking garage.
Well, apparently in this town in Derbyshire, England, people take their car safety pretty
seriously.
A building that was once home to vandals and drug-dealers was turned into one of the safest
facilities in the world in 1998.
This ten story structure has 440 parking spots, watched over by a closed circuit security
system of 190 cameras, bar-coded tickets and even panic buttons against any type of personal
attacks.
This state-of-the-art facility was refurbished in 2010 with new top of the line patented
security created by the Parksafe Company.
New 'smart cards' were introduced at the entrance and even a brand new anti-theft sensor, which
scans the size of the car and notes if there’s any movement below or above the car's preset,
was put in place.
Motion sensors can lock down the whole facility if there is a verified safety hazard.
All of this looked after by a control room supported by a strict management mapping system.
Yo, how much is it to park in this place?!
8 - Dubai Gold Vault Imagine going by the airport and getting some
gold.
Sounds easy, right?
Well, think again.
Considering Dubai is easily one of the richest countries in the world and where a commodity
like gold is common yet extremely expensive, it totally makes sense where there would be
a vault that’s pretty much completely locked down!
The United Arab Emirates prides itself in having the most important gold vault in all
the Middle East: the Dubai Gold Vault.
Operated by Brinks Security, one of the biggest security companies ever known, this hidden
gem of the Arab world is home to the assets of the rich and famous in Dubai.
Access to it is watched over 24/7 by security cameras.
Because of its location, which is right in the middle of the airport free zone, and its
proximity to other areas of interest to gold connoisseurs in the Middle East, a tough security
management system is put in place to make sure all gold is protected.
It’s definitely not a surpise that this is considered one of the best constructed
bank vaults in the world.
7 - Iron Mountain’s National Data Center When it comes to data storage on a high level,
the biggest companies in the world trust Iron Mountain.
As its name indicates, it’s literally an entire mountain that was turned into a record
center.
Built 220 feet under what used to be a limestone mine, this place is the core of basically
all corporate data in the world.
With an overall extension of 145 acres, Iron Mountain is located in western Pennsylvania,
on what's called the 'zero earthquake zone'.
As you would imagine, collecting data from some of the most important companies and governments
in the world calls for extreme safety measures.
Multiple security checkpoints with armed guards are located at the entrance, and even if you
get past that point, the innumerable amount of doors you have to go through requires voice
recognition and biometric verification.
Plus, the center is built to resist any kind of natural or nuclear disaster, which basically
means that WHATEVER happens up top, data belonging to some of the top companies in the world
would still be safe.
6 - ADX Florence Prison Named the highest-security prison in the United
States and the world, this maximum security escape-proof black hole is home to the most
dangerous convicted criminals.
The Oklahoma City b0mber, Terry Nichols; Ramzi Yousef, the 1993 World Trade Center b0mber;
and Ted Kaczynski, also known as the 'Unab0mber’, are serving life sentences here.
With a capacity for almost 500 inmates, this 37 acre compound is surrounded by 12-foot
high wire fences all over and is notorious for its harsh 23-hour solitary confinement
and overall security.
Inmates in this Colorado-based facility spend their time in 12 by 7 foot cells built in
poured concrete, with only one three-foot tall by four-inch wide window.
They’re forbidden from having contact with other prisoners and all activity is monitored
24/7 by numerous security cameras.
With 1400 steel doors all around, attack dogs and laser beams, it's safe to say security
is well designed in this 'Supermax' prison.
5 - WikiLeaks Bunker Julian Assange might be the most hated man
in the world by many governments, and one reason is because he may also be the sneakiest.
Built 100 feet below the ground on what used to be a nuclear bunker, the location of this
data center is so secret, no one has been able to figure out its exact coordinates.
Located somewhere in Sweden, this bunker was refurbished in 2008 to house data from some
of the top companies in the world.
It may be a brutal architectural design, but this place has it all: state-of-the-art conference
rooms, granite walls and even designer furniture.
A granite cave turned into a villain-like refuge, the WikiLeaks bunker remains safe
under the protection of Swedish laws, which prevent any kind of prosecution against the
company.
The futuristic construction of the site guarantees protection from just about anything.
4 - Vatican Secret Archives It's no secret that the Catholic Church is
very elusive about its belongings.
So, it's no surprise that their archives dating back four centuries aren’t ONLY well kept,
but they’re regarded with utmost care.
As mysterious as this sounds, its name was actually wrongly translated.
The secret archives was originally called 'Archivum Secretum' in latin, meaning 'Personal
archives of the pope', but this translation only added to the air of enigma surrounding
this institution that was once part of the Vatican Library.
Officially created in 1881 by Pope Paul the fifth, the Vatican Secret Archives is home
to thousands of letters, documents and correspondence between the pope and several kings.
Tours are available for visitors, but its content is only accessible after a strict
screening process to a very limited group of people.
Only certified scholars with a proven trajectory can opt to apply for entry credentials, after
first going through a full background check and even signing a non-disclosure agreement.
All permits must be renewed every six months.
Once granted permission, the scholar has to pass the Swiss guards set at the entrance
of the building and they’re closely watched during the full length of the visit as not
all content can be used for research.
3 - Federal Reserve Bank New York With more than half a million gold bars being
part of its assets and known as the most influential and popular Federal Reserve in America, you
can imagine the level of security it requires.
At eighty feet below the ground in New York City, this bank vault is home to the most
extensive collection of gold belonging to multiple international banks and governments.
There’s only one 9-foot tall entrance to the vault, and after 9/11, safety procedures
increased drastically.
Steel-reinforced concrete walls and a 24-hour motion sensor security system take care of
the outside of the vault, protecting the 90-ton steel cylinder entry, which is strengthened
by a 140-ton steel and concrete frame.
And if that weren't enough, when the cylinder is closed, four steel rods are inserted into
holes and time clocks are set to finish locking the vault.
Every single internal compartment of the vault uses padlocks and even an auditor.
Whenever a compartment is opened or gold is moved, staff members and auditors need to
be present to safely observe every movement.
The vault is connected to the main building's security system, which is also watched over
by the armed Federal Reserve Police force.
Hmmm, think the guys from Ocean’s 11 can get to this?!
2 - Coca-Cola Recipe Vault Atlanta is home to the World of Coca-Cola
Museum, but also to one of the best kept secrets of all time: the magic recipe behind the world's
most beloved beverage.
Originally located in SunTrust Bank in 1925, the secret formula was moved to the World
of Coca-Cola Museum for the company's 125th anniversary.
Although it’s part of the exhibition, visitors who are expecting to see the recipe will be
disappointed– the formula lies inside a metal box which doesn't allow for the recipe
to be seen.
Hidden within a five-foot tall, high-tech vault sealed with a thick steel door, the
formula created in 1886 is secured by a railing that keeps visitors several feet away.
The Coca-Cola company is so secretive about this valuable belonging, they won't even reveal
whether the keypad and scanner located outside the vault can actually grant access to it.
Guess SOMEONE will have to give it try, right?!
1 - Area 51 Known as the place where aliens were once
found and multiple cover-ups have been performed by the U.S. government, this research base
is the site where all conspiracy theories pretty much have theoretically taken place
if you believe the guys on the internet.
The world is uncertain about what exactly is happening inside this desert location,
but what we do know is the level of security and the extent the government is willing to
go to prevent outsiders from entering.
There might only be a wired fence around the base and a couple of signs demanding you not
to step any closer, but don't be fooled, this is only the first step!
In a ten mile radius from the outside of the base there are magnetic sensors on the road
sending signals to the main guard house describing how fast and in what direction any vehicle
in the area is going.
All air and ground activity is heavily monitored by cameras at the hill tops of the surrounding
mountains.
Crossing the 26-mile line will get you arrested, since the government has seized the surrounding
areas of the base.
Orders to get rid of trespassers who demonstrated they wanted to go in have been put in their
place in the past, soooo yeah, just don’t do it!
Here’s what’s next!