It was only a couple of weeks ago we saw an absolutely insane explosion in Beirut – although nobody is really talking about that anymore, hope they’re recovering over there? – but Russia have decided to top this by releasing footage of the world’s largest ever nuclear explosion.

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The Russian government decided to declassify footage of the Tsar Bomb, which was detonated on 30 October 1961 off the coast of Severny Island near the Arctic Ocean. The bomb contained 50 megatons of conventional explosive, making it 3,333 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. It’s also way more destructive than the last bomb the United States detonated in 1961 that was *only* 15 megatons. It weighed 27 tonnes and was about eight metres in length.

The bomb was detonated around 4000 metres above ground and was so powerful that it was felt by the bomber, even though he was 75 miles away. The mushroom cloud extended to 42 miles into the air – seven times higher than Mount Everest – and could be seen from 620 miles away. Buildings that were 35 miles away from it were destroyed.

Here’s the footage (first clip is a 40 minute video ‘celebrating’ Russia’s nuclear programme, second one is just the bomb exploding):

Damn that’s one hell of an explosion, but I can’t help but feel a little disappointed after there were so many angles and such insane footage of the Beirut bomb the other week. I guess cameras weren’t up to scratch back in 1961 and it was dumb of me to expect more, but even so I can’t help but feel a little cheated. Can’t really see much more when you’re 75 miles away though.

For more of the same, check out this footage of the Beirut bomb. Absolutely crazy.