Sillamäe Military town

After World War II, Sillamäe was transformed into one of the most secretive industrial cities in the Soviet Union. In 1946, Plant No. 7 was established here, part of the industrial system related to the Soviet atomic program. In the early years, local dictyonema shale was processed to obtain uranium; later, the plant focused on other uranium raw materials and the production of rare metals. Access to the city was strictly controlled for decades, and Sillamäe was not marked on conventional maps. Today, the Stalinist city center, industrial area, and distinctive city planning are reminders of this era.