Hidden high in the mountains of Lefkada, Greece, lies the skeleton of a Cold War-era communication station, slowly being reclaimed by nature. Once a guarded military outpost watching the skies, now only visited by tourists because of the spectacular view of the island.
The NATO Base Camp near the Church of Profiti Ilias on Lefkada was established in 1965 as a key communication hub between Mediterranean NATO bases. Located on the windy Agios Donatos plateau, it featured a radar station (“486L MEDCOM”) with four large steel transmitting antennas and a fully equipped military camp built to American standards. Around 30 Americans and 15 Greek locals, mostly from nearby villages, worked there in various roles, including technical staff and support personnel. The base housed advanced technology for its time, including its own power station with four generators and the “ACE HIGH” communication system. Facilities included dormitories, a kitchen, gym, entertainment rooms, and a helipad with refueling.
The station closed shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Transferred first to the Greek Air Force and then to the local municipality, the base was soon looted, stripping it of nearly all valuable equipment. Today, only the empty buildings and antennas remain as silent relics of Cold War history.
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