The Hanford Site
The Hanford Site , also referred to as Hanford Engineer Works or Site W, is a decommissioned nuclear production complex located along the Columbia River in Benton County, Washington. Established in 1943, it was a secret facility of the Manhattan Project , selected for its abundant river water, hydroelectric power, mild climate, strong transport links, and remote location. Image: United States Department of Energy - Image N1D0069267., "Nuclear reactors line the riverbank at the Hanford Site along the Columbia River in January 1960. The N Reactor is in the foreground, with the twin KE and KW Reactors in the immediate background. The historic B Reactor , the world's first plutonium production reactor, is visible in the distance." Construction began in 1943, and by September 1944, the B Reactor became operational , making it the world's first full-scale industrial plutonium reactor. This reactor supplied plutonium for the Trinity Test and for the “ Fat Man ” bomb dropped...