We've all seen pictures of the Great Pyramids at Giza.

The Sphinx and the Great Pyramids of Giza
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You've probably also seen photos of this Mayan temple.

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While I imagine most everyone has heard of these pyramids, you might not have known that North Dakota has a very unique structure hiding in one of its small towns.

The North Dakota Pyramid

Nekoma is a small town that is just 40 miles from Canada. If you visit the town, you will notice there's not a lot to it. There's a small store and a restaurant. Oh, and one other thing... a pyramid!

Yes, Nekoma is home to something many call "The North Dakota Pyramid."

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Driving past the pyramid, you might think it was something left behind from an ancient civilization, but that's not the case. While it does very much look like a pyramid constructed by the Egyptians or Mayans, it was actually made much more recently.

Here's a closer look:

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American Missile Defense

According to Atlas Obscura, the pyramid was constructed in the 1960s and is actually part of a missile defense complex. The pyramid was a radar system. There are also several missile silos surrounding the pyramid.

The source says the purpose of the complex was to shoot incoming Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The source claims the complex was eventually shut down due to expenses and concerns over its effectiveness. There was also a concern over the danger of detonating nuclear warheads over friendly territory.

Did you know this structure was in North Dakota?


 

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