Chernobyl's Ghost Cities
Visit the abandoned towns left by the worst nuclear disaster of all timeWhen one thinks of Chernobyl, vacation spot is certainly not the first thing to come to mind. However, more than two decades after the terrible reactor meltdown, tours of the contaminated towns surrounding the infamous reactor are gaining in popularity.
On April 26, 1986, during a test to see how much power was needed to keep the No. 4 reactor operating in the event of a black out, the Chernobyl Nuclear Station exploded, releasing extremely dangerous amounts of radioactive chemicals into the air, which over time contaminated millions of square miles in dozens of European nations. It is estimated that thousands of deaths were directly caused by the explosion, while still more suffered from illnesses brought about by radiation exposure.
The town closest to the No. 4 reactor was Pripyat, a city of 49,000 founded in 1970 to house workers from Chernobyl. Only about three kilometers from the plant, the entire city was forced to evacuate.
Two decades later, this ghost town is a freeze frame of the Soviet Union in 1986. Communist propaganda still hangs on walls, personal belongings litter the streets and abandoned buildings. The hammer and sickle decorate lampposts, awaiting May Day celebrations that never took place. Toys are strewn about a schoolhouse where they were last dropped by children who are now fully grown. All clocks are frozen at 11:55, the moment the electricity was cut.
To tour Pripyat, Chernobyl, and the surrounding villages, one must first obtain a day pass from the government. These passes can be obtained through the touring companies located in Kiev, about 110 kilometers from the blast site. There are five well-known tour agencies that take visitors to Pripyat. However, due to the lack of repair, the buildings and other structures in the town are becoming increasingly dilapidated. Because of this, many tour companies will not let visitors into the buildings.
Besides the crumbling buildings, safety is not a major concern. It takes between 300 to 500 roentgens per hour of radiation to deliver a lethal dose. Levels on the tour range from 15 to several hundred micro-roentgens per hour. All tours end with a screening for radiation levels.
Already, after only two decades of abandonment, these cities are beginning to be swallowed up by the surrounding forest. Someday soon, they will no doubt be completely overgrown.
Read more about Chernobyl's Ghost Cities on Atlas Obscura...
Category: Disaster Areas, Cultures and Civilizations , Incredible Ruins
Location: Chornobyl', Ukraine
Edited by: Delireus, mrobscurity, julianturner, Henri, Rachel
