Historic Geoengineering Ventures: From Giant Dams to Artificial Mountains

Key points:

Herman Sörgel proposed a grand dam project across the Strait of Gibraltar in the 1930s, aiming to lower sea levels and provide new fertile lands.
The Soviet Union explored plans to melt Arctic ice caps using nuclear bombs or by digging through underwater ridges to alter the climate.
In the 1990s, Project Znamya aimed to create a ‘second moon’ of sunlight for Russia’s arctic regions by launching reflective satellites.
Australian engineer Laurie Hogan suggested building new mountain ranges to transform the country's landscape and improve its environment.

Historical Ambitions: The Atlantropa Project

In the 1930s, German engineer Herman Sörgel envisioned a colossal dam across the Strait of Gibraltar. This ambitious project was designed to lower the Mediterranean Sea by two hundred meters, creating vast new lands for agriculture and energy production. Despite initial excitement, including detailed engineering designs, the plan struggled with logistical challenges and environmental concerns.

The Soviet Climate Manipulation Plans

Historic Geoengineering Ventures: From Giant Dams to Artificial Mountains

Russia's history of climatic challenges inspired its engineers to propose radical solutions. PM Borisov suggested melting the Arctic ice cap by building a dam across the Bering Strait or excavating an underwater ridge. These projects, rooted in the “great Stalin plan for the transformation of nature,” aimed to make the Soviet Union more hospitable but faced economic and practical obstacles.

Nuclear Bombs and Arctic Ice

The 1940s brought a surge of techno-optimism, leading to ideas like Harry Wexler's proposal that carefully placed hydrogen bombs could melt Arctic ice caps. The Soviets went further, attempting to use nuclear explosions to redirect rivers. However, the environmental impact and technical difficulties led to these schemes being shelved.

Artificial Sunlight for Russia

In the 1990s, Project Znamya sought to provide additional daylight to Russia's arctic regions by launching reflective satellites. While this idea seemed promising on paper, it struggled with financial constraints and technical issues. The project managed to create a small patch of light but ultimately failed due to economic challenges.

A Vision for New Mountain Ranges

Australian engineer Laurie Hogan proposed creating new mountain ranges in 1979, arguing that such landscapes could dramatically improve the environment. His ambitious plan included constructing forty-nine cities and numerous fish farms. Although Hogan wrote a book advocating his idea, it never gained widespread support or funding.

Source: The Guardian