‘No little green men here’: How Area 51 became ground zero for UFO and alien sightings

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Area 51 is a highly classified area in Nevada.
Currently, over 1 million people are actively plotting to "storm" the base in an attempt to see aliens.
It’s likely a joke, but it’s brought up some serious questions about what goes on at the base.
The US Government didn’t acknowledge Area 51, also called Groom Lake, until 2013.
From test planes to top-secrecy, here’s what to know about the base that’s become associated with aliens and UFOs.
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Area 51 is highly classified, mysterious Air Force base in Nevada. It’s been at the center of numerous conspiracy theories pertaining to aliens and UFOs.

Over 1 million people have responded to a Facebook event to "storm" the site. The event is supposed to take place on September 20 with the end goal of getting the group to "see them aliens."

The event is likely a joke, but it’s also led to memes. From spy planes to tourist attractions, here’s how the military base became associated with the theories.

Area 51 is an active Air Force base in Nevada.

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Very little is known about the highly classified, remote base, making it the perfect object of fascination and conspiracy.

It’s unclear why the base is even called Area 51.

Laura Rauch/AP Photo

According to the CIA, Area 51 is its map designation. But it begs the question — are there other "areas?"

As National Geographic notes, there are many other names for the base. One of those names, is Groom Lake, a reference to the dry lake near the base, while another is the sarcastic moniker Paradise Ranch. Its official site name is Watertown, but it’s sometimes referred to as Dreamland, after the Edgar Allen Poe poem of the same name.

The base is not open to the public, but there are plenty of nearby tourist attractions that capitalize on its history.

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The active base has high security 24 hours a day. This means if a person — or, say, 1 million —wanted to storm the base in an attempt to see aliens, it would be incredibly dangerous.

But, as Travel Nevada notes, there are several attractions around the state that have glommed on to the alien-theme, playing up the secrecy of the base, including the Extraterrestrial Highway. Stops along the highway include Hiko, Nevada, where you can visit the Alien Research Center and purchase ET Fresh Jerky, and Rachel, Nevada, which is considered the "UFO Capital of the World."

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