Wonder lust: Chernobyl

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20627552.100-wonder-lust-chernobyl.html

ON 26 April 1986, the Chernobyl power station in Ukraine became the scene of the world's worst nuclear accident. Today it is a unique wildlife refuge, a construction site (a new steel shelter is being built over what is left of the reactor) and a poignant destination for intrepid visitors.

You would be wise to be concerned about levels of radiation in the area, but it is possible to visit safely. The key is to stick to the paths that have been cleared of radioactive debris, though to to be sure of doing so you will need to hire a local guide. When I visited in 1995, I was led to within a few metres of the remains of the reactor. A badge that recorded my radiation dose over the three days I was there revealed that I received no more than the radiation I would have been exposed to on a dozen flights across the Atlantic - significantly less than I had imagined.

Accept this level of risk and you are in for a unique experience. For a start, the area has rapidly been repopulated by wildlife: lynxes, eagle owls, great white egrets, swans and even bears have been spotted. Be sure to visit the ghost town of Pripyat, too. Once home to 50,000 people, it was evacuated a few days after the disaster.

Having seen the site itself, head to the Chernobyl museum in Kiev. Among the exhibits is footage of the reactor core, shot from a helicopter in the immediate aftermath of the disaster (YouTube hosts a wealth of footage and documentaries too).

More at the link --

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. There was a documentary on You Tube or somewhere about that place.

There were spots in apartments facing the reactor where radioactive materials was trapped & were very hazardous. The whole town was left as is, belongings & all. It's a good place to see how quickly things return to nature if left alone.

[Donnachaidh]

2. are you thinking of Chernobyl Heart?

That's the one recent documentary I've seen. They show the children who are born with birth defects, and abandoned, due to the defects. They go into the areas to see if people are still living in HOT areas. And they are.

[DJ13]

3. I remember a video where a woman rode her motorcycle into Chernobyl

Then shot video from inside abandoned apartment buildings, where they were still furnished.

Quite eerie.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. That was the one for sure.