Most guarded places on Earth: What are these 25 places hiding?

It turns out people want to hide more than just gold, jewels and priceless manuscripts.

Secret military operations, freedom, royal correspondence, dangerous people — depending on the country, a variety of materials are considered so important that they must be kept safe at all costs. Often, the guarded items are so precious that not even the guards are allowed to check on them.

Some of these locations aren’t even protecting invaluable items — just a lot full of cars — but they’re still incredibly secured. But, deep in granite caves, across the frozen tundra in Arctic countries only accessible by plane, or protected by hundreds of specially-trained guards, countries have thought up truly ingenious ways of safeguarding their most valuable possessions.

From tiny seeds to gold bullion, the world's most precious treasures are hiding in safes that not even Jeff Sitar could crack.

Here are 25 of the most heavily guarded places on Earth — and what they’re guarding.

1. Fort Knox

Fort Knox (aka the United States Bullion Depository) guards 147.3 million ounces of gold — roughly half of the U.S.’s gold reserves, according to the U.S. Mint.

During World War II the facility also protected important documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

The only time gold is taken from the fort is when small samples are removed to do quality-testing audits. Except for those, no gold has arrived or left the Depository in many years.

The exterior is surrounded by a steel fence, and the building’s walls are made of steel-reinforced, concrete-lined granite. The Fort Knox military base, which houses more than 26,000 soldiers, is right around the corner.

The exact security measures used at Fort Knox are kept secret. But among the rumored systems are turrets, land mines, radar, criss-crossed electric fences and laser-triggered machine guns, according to Business Insider.

There is also a battalion of Mint Police stationed inside the 20-ton vault door, for which nobody has the full combination.

2. White House

Unsurprisingly, the president of the United States lives in one of the most secure homes in the world.

In the last century, to adapt along with the times, the White House has been renovated in some key ways. In 1957, amid the threat of nuclear war, the government purchased a helicopter — and its corresponding helipad — to quickly escape the mansion. And although the public is still invited to tour the public rooms, since the attacks on September 11, 2001, you will need to request tickets in advance from a Member of Congress.

It would take hundreds of people to penetrate the structure, which is surrounded by a giant iron fence, lined with bullet-proof windows and swarming with Secret Service agents.

And that’s exactly what happened during the January 2021 riots at the Capitol building, a few weeks before Joe Biden was sworn in as president.

Since the attack, the House and Senate are considering security upgrade packages worth $1.9 to $3.7 billion.

3. Bank Of England Gold Vault, London

Similar to Fort Knox, the Bank of England’s vault protects more than 4,600 tons of gold with advanced security measures not disclosed to the public.

It is the second-largest keeper of gold in the world, behind the New York Federal Reserve, according to the bank’s website.

What we do know is that the gold is kept in nine underground vaults, which are 100 percent bomb-proof, and the lock mechanism has voice recognition and requires a giant three-foot key. Not many people are allowed to visit the bank’s gold stores, but Queen Elizabeth II and her son Prince Charles have been known to take a tour.

The bank was established in 1694 and has never been robbed. But rumor has it that in 1836, a sewer worker accidentally entered the vault through the floor. Instead of stealing the gold, he reported the security problem to the bank and was rewarded with £800 (more than $100,000 USD in today’s money) for his honesty.

A fun fact, borrowed from the London Bullion Market Association, is that only 6% of the gold in the bank is held by the U.K. treasury. The rest is held in trust for other clients.

4. Area 51

The mysterious Area 51 is an offshoot of an Air Force base in the Nevada desert. It opened as an aircraft testing facility in 1955, but the CIA didn’t officially acknowledge its existence until 2013.

We don’t know exactly what the government is hiding there, but some conspiracy theorists are convinced it’s a crashed alien spacecraft along with the vehicle’s pilots. Several abductions have been reported in the area. And one former employee claims to have seen alien technology and photos of aliens inside, according to the BBC.

In 2019, a Facebook group with more than 1 million people jokingly suggested storming the grounds to see for themselves. But at a base known for developing, testing and protecting cutting-edge military technology, that likely wouldn’t have ended well.

Although information about what goes on at Area 51 is predictably sparse, the U.S. military allegedly continues to use the space to develop cutting-edge aircraft, and up to 1,500 employees potentially work there.

5. Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is one of England’s most popular tourist attractions, known for the famous changing of the guard. It’s also where Queen Elizabeth II lives.

According to The Guardian, the palace has a Royal Protection Squad, built of elite Scotland Yard officers who provide 24-hour security detail, and who are called in during breaches. After an incident in 1982, a police station was built next to the palace, which serves as a headquarters for the RPS.

Inside the palace, the queen is protected by high walls lined with spikes and barbed wire. But that wasn’t enough to keep Michael Fagan from breaking in while high on mushrooms — not once, but twice. Somehow, according to Town and Country, Fagan got past the closed circuit television, armed guards and the heat sensors.

The second time, he entered the queen’s bedroom as she slept, giving her quite the scare.

Since then, the palace security has been doubled.

6. Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Norway

Also known as the Doomsday Seed Vault, this secure facility doesn’t protect gold, documents or important people.

It protects seeds.

The idea is that if we ever accidentally destroyed our food supply, we could avoid doomsday with the backup seeds.

The seed vault sits in a copper mine on a remote island about 800 miles from the North Pole and is protected with motion sensors, airlocks and reinforced concrete walls.

According to the Crop Trust website, permafrost and thick rock guarantees that the seeds will remain frozen even without power. Svalbard, where the seed vault is located, is the most northern location you can fly to, so it is remote — and frozen — while still being accessible.

While the entrance is visible — think giant, holographic USB key — the vault itself is 100 meters inside the mountain. More natural advantages about the location are that it is geologically stable, has a low humidity, and is well above sea level.

7. Vatican Secret Archives, Italy

Until recently, few people on earth had access to the information lying under guard in the Vatican Secret Archives — which have actually been known as the Vatican Apostolic Archives since 2019.

These archives include 53 miles of shelving filled with documents, private letters and historical data dating back to the eighth century. The most important documents are guarded in an underground vault called “The Bunker.”

The archives are in a particularly fortified part of Vatican City, next to its library, according to Vatican Tickets and Tours.

To gain access to them, you need to go through an intense security vetting process, beginning with an online application to the prefect.

The Archives are only accessible through the Porta di Santa Anna, and the main gates to Vatican City are guarded by the pope’s Swiss Guards.

Originally, only the inner circle of the Catholic Church had access to the archives. But in 1881, Pope Leo XIII opened them to scholarly researchers. In response to increased public interest, Pope Francis opened the archive to the public in March 2020 to show the church has nothing to hide.

Documents are only made available to scholars once they are 75 years old.

8. The Moscow Kremlin, Russia

The Kremlin is a complex of buildings in Moscow that includes the president’s official home (even though he doesn’t actually live there).

The exterior is protected by walls up to 21 feet thick. Inside are hundreds of elite soldiers, known as the Presidential Regiment.

These soldiers are rumored to have excellent hearing abilities. According to a Russian newspaper, they must be able to understand whispers from 19.6 feet away.

Business Insider says that there are several “kremlins” — which, loosely translated, means “citadel” — throughout Russia, but the Moscow version is the one people think of. It comprises 68 acres, 15 buildings, 20 towers and gardens.

To gain access, visitors need to buy a ticket and submit to a bag and full body scan.

Russian state news magazine, Russia Beyond, confirms that the Kremlin is essentially impenetrable, as there are cameras and sensors everywhere, not to mention members of the Presidential Regiment every few feet. The Kremlin also maintains restricted air space above it.

9. Cheyenne Mountain Complex, Colorado

If we ever face Armageddon, the Cheyenne Mountain Complex is where you’ll find the survivors.

Buried under 2,000 feet of granite on Cheyenne Mountain, this nuclear bomb-proof bunker is as secure as it gets. There is only one way in, and only one tiny way out (if the main entrance gets blocked).

The underground complex has housed several government operations throughout history, including the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and it is often referred to as the “nerve center” of homeland defense operations.

Behind the entrance’s two 25-ton doors is an entire living complex complete with a fitness center, cafeteria and six million gallons of emergency water and food rations.

There are actually three whole buildings constructed inside the mountain that handle the operations of its tenants.

According to CNET, it is designed to house all government and defense functions in case of a nuclear strike, but a lot of the day-to-day seems to be classified. Cheyenne Mountain notes on its website that public tours are not available.

10. Korean Demilitarized Zone

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a 2.4-mile strip of land buffering North and South Korea.

Since the Korean War, multiple skirmishes, mini-battles and murders have stained the DMZ, including two American soldiers who were killed while on a routine assignment to trim a tree blocking their view of another guardhouse.

The zone is littered with minefields, and both sides are heavily fortified to defend against attacks and prevent defections.

While Korea is encouraging tourism around the DMZ, according to an article by The Independent, in order to visit you need to sign a document saying you understand the risk of potential death.

Despite the danger and insane security, one small South Korean community, Taesung Freedom Village, lies within.

Its 188 citizens are exempt from mandatory South Korean military service and receive special tax benefits. But they are also constantly surveyed by soldiers, follow a mandatory nightly curfew and must show up for a roll call every evening.

11. Lascaux Caves, France

Entrance to the Lascaux Caves is so restricted that even security guards are allowed to enter for only a few minutes at a time.

The caves are home to more than 900 displays of prehistoric art, some dating back as far as 20,000 years. But the cave system is extremely fragile. In 1963, a mysterious fungus laid siege to some of the drawings, and they’ve been sealed off from the public ever since.

Before this incident, the cave drew up to 2,000 visitors per day. But for nearly six decades it’s been locked behind steel doors, visited only by a handful of academics.

Given the destructive effects of humans and “open visitation” on the paintings, Lascaux began cooling the caves with specific air conditioning, and in 2004 adopted a global conservation plan.

However, if you still want to pay a visit, you can arrange to take a tour of a replica of the caves, funded by France’s Ministry of Culture.

12. The Swiss Vaults

The Swiss Vaults are where the wealthiest people on earth store their treasures.

This network of solid rock vaults is built deep into the foothills of the Alps. It ranges from small, 1,000-square-foot chambers to enormous rooms with 300-foot ceilings.

The vaults protect gold, artwork and family treasures. But owners also use them to hold secure meetings.

Valuables stored here are not only safe from thieves but also world chaos. Switzerland is like a vault itself — citizens are armed, military-trained and prepared for disaster. At one point, there was enough secret underground bunker space to hold the entire population, and the country’s infrastructure was rigged with booby traps to protect against invaders.

Matterhorn Asset Management gives a peek into what it would be like to store gold in the Swiss Vaults. You’d need a minimum deposit of US$5 million.

They also offer a nearby private airstrip and luxurious private accommodations so you can visit your treasure whenever you’d like. After, of course, you pass through the miles of underground tunnels, protected by thick blast doors.

You can rest easy knowing that what you want to keep safe is not only guarded, but buried deep in solid rock, safe from atomic pressures, earthquakes and geopolitical conflicts.

13. Granite Mountain Records Vault, U.S.

The Catholic Church isn’t the only religious group with amped-up security.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (widely known as the Mormon church) carved the Granite Mountain Records Vault 700 feet inside a mountain near Salt Lake City.

Access is restricted, and the facility is protected by two doors, weighing 9 and 14 tons, designed to weather a nuclear blast.

There is no public touring of the archives, although people who are curious can watch a behind-the-scenes video on the church’s website.

Inside are 3.5 billion microfilm images and genealogical records. Latter-day Saints believe ancestors who did not hear about the Mormon faith can be baptized by proxy. The deceased can then accept or reject the baptism that was carried out for them.

According to a 2004 article by The Washington Post, the entrance is watched by cameras that have the ability to zoom in on license plates. Then, authorized visitors are searched by armed guards with metal detector wands, and surveyed by secret motion sensors.

The treasures are held in a granite cave about the size of a submarine, and geologists have commented that it is probably as safe as a vault can get.

14. Communications Security Establishment, Canada

The Communication Security Establishment (CSE) is responsible for Canada’s cyber security, information technology security, foreign intelligence, cyber operations and assistance to foreign intelligence partners. It also provides other federal agencies with assistance.

In other words, secret spy stuff.

The establishment was first founded in 1946, after World War II, but it was kept completely secret until 1974, according to Go Anywhere.

CSE operates out of several buildings in Ottawa, including the Edward Drake Building and 1625 Vanier Parkway.

Despite the secrecy surrounding these buildings, they are surprisingly fun. For example, the Edward Drake Building is equipped with basketball courts, a wood-burning pizza oven, a prayer room, volleyball courts and five kilometers of walking trails.

It takes a herculean effort to work there. All applicants must undergo a thorough vetting process, including background, financial and police checks, be eligible for Top Secret clearance, and be willing to relocate to Ottawa.

15. Tumen River, China, North Korea, Russia

The Tumen River flows along the boundaries separating North Korea, China and Russia. Due to its shallow waters, it’s one of the most popular escape routes used by North Koreans to defect.

According to Traveler magazine, some key security features of the river are its temperature and its depth. It is cold, yet shallow, allegedly making it a challenging temptation for North Korean refugees attempting to cross into another country.

While the Tumen River borders three different countries, it is mostly used as a means of escaping North Korea, although its potential as a method of transporting goods and services to Northeast Asia has not escaped notice.

Each border is heavily patrolled, and North Koreans are banned from stepping within 500 feet of the river.

This makes it not only harder to escape but also prevents them from connecting their phones to Chinese cell signals to contact the outside world.

16. Bold Lane Car Park

People secure all types of things that are subjectively, or objectively valuable — the Hope Diamond, the Mona Lisa … and apparently a parking lot.

Bold Lane Car Park, operated by Parksafe Systems according to The Guardian, initially opened in Derbyshire in the mid 1970s, and for a time it was frequented by many people experiencing homelessness. It became known as a venue for “various antisocial behaviors,” says security expert Identiv.

In 1998, it was shut down to improve its security systems, adding closed-circuit television for each parking space, 24/7 human security patrols, panic buttons and sensors that can sense if a car is moved even a little.

If your car moves when sensors think it shouldn’t, the entire garage of 315 spaces locks down.

After the parking garage re-opened — with an elaborate entry/exit system made up of barcoded tickets linked to individual spaces — the “antisocial behaviors” dropped to zero immediately.

17. ADX Florence Prison

This prison, nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains near Florence, Colorado, has been named by the Guinness Book of World Records as being one of the most secure prisons in the world.

Opened in 1994, ADX Florence was designed to incarcerate those prisoners deemed too dangerous for the average prison. Every inch of it is designed to be inescapable.

The prison’s exterior is bland and designed in a monolithic style to confuse anyone unfamiliar with the layout. The windows of each cell are positioned to look at the sky and the walls of the building — so inmates don’t know where they are located.

The grounds themselves are surrounded by a 12-foot razor wire fence, and security cameras line both the inside and outside.

According to ThoughtCo., some of the other protective measures this prison uses are attack dogs, laser technology and remote-controlled doors. Most of the prisoners are inside their cells for 20 to 24 hours a day. Visitors and outside time are highly restricted, if allowed at all.

18. Snake Island

Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?

This island, 90 miles off the coast of Såo Paolo, is actually called Ilha de Queimada Grande — the nickname comes from the 2,000 and 4,000 golden lancehead vipers that call it home.