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Abandoned chernobyl12/3/2023 ![]() It was fascinating and is by far one of the most interesting things I have ever done. Most of these areas will be uninhabitable (for humans) for the next 20,000 years. In April I visited some of the villages within the exclusion zone, the reactors and the city of Pripyat (in essence, a Soviet era time capsule). ![]() The number of ‘delayed deaths’ (years after, from things such as thyroid cancer) that can be attributed to the disaster have been much harder to establish and are highly contested (with estimates ranging from 4,000 all the way to 200,000 deaths). In total, 31 people lost their lives in the days/weeks/months directly following the disaster (two from the blast and 29 from acute radiation exposure). Following the disaster, it became a naval maintenance and supply base.On April 26, 1986, reactor 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant blew up, causing the world’s largest nuclear accident. The shipyard was originally built on “The Island” as a repair base for steam ships. ![]() Close by a ubiquitous gas mask lays submerged in the shallows. A fish laying on its side, its tail appears deformed, slowly flexes its body back and forth before resting, only to continue its final struggle 30 seconds later. Whilst moving between boats a movement in the water catches my eye. I didn’t miss the early start but I did miss the sun as it was far colder. Stepping back on to solid ground we head left, the workers right, and we’re relieved to find ourselves alone, the silhouette of the first boat ahead of us. The sun is rising, its stunning orange light glistens on the frosted metal floor of the pontoon as we cross. No one says a word as by now we have dock workers walking both in front and behind us. Descending the steep wooden steps we walk over to the pontoon that spans the water. By the time, we reach the docks we have fallen silent. We look as we pass but don’t see any of the inhabitants.Īs we turn onto the road running parallel with the port a figure in military fatigues focuses our minds, fortunately, he is walking away from us, the glowing tip of his swinging cigarette clearly visible. On the way to the port, we pass 3 houses that were clearly inhabited, lights blaze from windows and unseen dogs bark behind fences. A quantity although not inhabited appear to be maintained to an extent, but most are in various states of collapse. The roads flanked by once proud houses, the vast majority of which are now abandoned and partially obscured by foliage, their dark open windows watch us pass. Fortunately, the route led us quickly into the overgrown and long empty suburban streets of Chernobyl where we could relax. We took advantage of the dim morning light to tiptoe past the rear of the administration block, the lights were on and the sound of female voices traveled through the chill air. ![]() In reality, I’m not sure how much of a risk this was but it certainly added to the excitement (and perhaps being the last day of this trip it made us braver). There is a curfew for visitors in the zone and self-guided tours are a definite no-no. With no time left to visit the ship graveyard “officially”, on the last day we staggered out the accommodation block at 5.30am with the intention of reaching the boats and being back in time for breakfast. Having briefly gazed from the opposite bank at the rusting assortment of ships beached near Chernobyl’s port, my second visit was to be a much earlier one. Click to enlarge, use browser back button to return. ![]()
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