The World Turned Upside DownThe population of Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands would never be the same after 1946. 67 nuclear weapons tests were conducted on this atoll until the blessed year of 1958. Perhaps the only reason the United States moved a beautiful culture and atoll was to resolve some post-war hardships. Bikini was the definition of perfection when it came to testing the most powerful weapon in the world. It was inhabited by only 167 islanders, which meant easy relocation. The atoll has been isolated, limiting the possibility of further damage to other atolls. It also had a shallow lagoon, which allowed easy access to radioactive measuring devices that would fall into the water. In July 1946, the first operation of what would be many, Operation Crossroads, took place, sealing the Bikinians' destiny to forever be the "nomads of the sea." The goal was to test prototypes of the first thermonuclear weapon. The largest thermonuclear weapon ever detonated by the United States occurred at Bikini Atoll. Its name was Castle Bravo and it was detonated on March 1, 1954. This detonation affected not only the atoll, but also other inhabited atolls that were not evacuated. The United States destroyed all respect and pride that Marshall Islanders had for their land. On that same land, the generations before them lived in harmony and peace. This would be the same land that the people of Bikini were unable to return and claim as their own (it was only deemed safe in 2013). Although nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands brought pre-Cold War tranquility to the United States, America's lack of consideration for the consequences of severe radioactivity led to the annihilation of the entire culture,... paper... would not be necessary, sealing the predetermined fate of generations to come. Winds at an altitude of about 17,000 feet blew fallout filled with radioactive particles into populated areas. Rongelap Atoll suffered the most. There were 64 people living on the atoll and they received no warning or explanation from the United States (Niendenthal). Here they experienced anorexia, nausea and diarrhea in the first 24 to 78 hours after immediate exposure. After weeks of exposure, many islanders developed lesions and hair loss (Simon ##). Not only did these tests ruin Bikini culture, but the numerous mistakes made by the United States affected another innocent atoll. The decision to proceed with this detonation, even if America knew the outcome might occur; they successfully destroyed a culture and created a heavy genetic cloud over subsequent generations.