The Tsar Bomba, detonated by the Soviet Union on October 30, 1961, holds the record as the most powerful nuclear weapon ever tested. With a yield of around 50 megatons of TNT, it was more than 3,000 times stronger than the Hiroshima bomb. The explosion produced a massive mushroom cloud that extended up to 60 kilometers into the atmosphere, and its shockwave was so intense that it reportedly circled the globe three times.
The test aimed to showcase Soviet nuclear capabilities during the Cold War, sending a strong message of deterrence. Despite its enormous power, the Tsar Bomba's use was limited to testing as its destructive capacity was too high for practical deployment. This event marked a peak in nuclear arms development and remains a stark reminder of the Cold War's nuclear race.