ABSTRACT
Introduction The Spanish conquistadors named a 60-mile stretch of desert in New Mexico the Jordana del Muerto Valley or “route of the dead man.”1 This portion of the desert had once been the deadliest and toughest part of the Camino Real, the highway that connected old Mexico to Santa Fe. Despite the lack of water, harsh temperatures, and the presence of hostile Indians, the valley was the preferred route because it was wide enough for supply wagons to traverse. However, on July 16, 1945, its remote location and arid climate made it the perfect location for the United States to conduct the first nuclear weapon test.2
