CHERNOBYL 30 YEARS AFTER A NUCLEAR DISASTER: IS IT A SAFE TRIP IN 2019?

On the night of April 25-26, 1986, the world’s most terrible nuclear catastrophe happened not far from the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. The fourth nuclear unit of Chernobyl NPP exploded and hurled into the air a huge amount of dangerous radioactive material in the now abandoned city of Pripyat.

WHAT ONE NEEDS TO KNOW TO VISIT THE EXCLUSION ZONE AND CHERNOBYL?

WHAT IS THE CHERNOBYL CATASTROPHE? WHAT HAPPENED THERE IN 1986?

The tragedy happened late at night during ordinary security tests at the 4th nuclear reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the city of Pripyat.

The station team planned to make some turbine tests; therefore, they deliberately turned off the security system. During the checks, the reactor overheated and produced a powerful detonation. It threw out streams of radioactive material two kilometers into the Earth’s atmosphere.

After the explosion, 134 employees of the station and firefighters were brought to the hospital with symptoms of acute radiation syndrome. Twenty-eight of them died within some weeks and months after the disaster.

The radioactive contamination was extremely harmful and the authorities came to the decision to form the Exclusion Zone around the reactor — a special zone with a radius of 30 km; more than 100,000 people had to evacuate to the safe places.

IS CHERNOBYL OPEN FOR PUBLIC?

Yes. In 2010 the authorities considered the Exclusion Zone to be safe for visits and since then it has been officially open for tourists.

IS IT A SAFE PLACE TO VISIT?

Yes, if you on condition that you travel officially and accompanied by a professional guide.

According to the Association of Chernobyl Tourism, thousands of tourists visit the Chernobyl NPP and the Exclusion Zone annually and their number grows every year. In 2015 there were 15,064 guests, in 2016 — 36,781, of which 24,492 were foreigners; in 2017 the number of tourists was 49,750, two thirds of which are foreigners. The amount of radiation a person gets when visiting the Exclusion Zone is nearly the same as on a long-distance flight.

The main danger here are the unsafe buildings and constructions, which were abandoned for 30 years, and from the structures of which a lot of metal was cut, not the radiation. Therefore, you need to walk in groups and strictly observe the instructions of the guide.

Guides always have a Geiger counter to check the level of radioactivity.

However, it’s not worth staying in the Exclusion Zone for a longer period than your tour lasts. It may be dangerous.

IS CHERNOBYL WORTH A VISIT?

According to the tourists who visited the Exclusion Zone and the ghost town of Pripyat, this is an exciting adventure and it is worth experiencing. After all, only here you can:

• get acquainted with the real stories of local residents who live in the Chernobyl NPP zone;
• feel the thrilling darkness of the landscapes of a deserted area that inspires photographers so much;
• touch the history of the most famous nuclear disaster;
• become aware of the risks of nuclear power.

I AM KEEN TO GO TO CHERNOBYL, HOW CAN I DO THIS?

Chernobyl is located about 100 km north of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. It takes about two hours to drive there. For tourists who are already in Kyiv – it‘d be an easy one-day trip.

Most tours lasts one day, but you can also stay overnight in a small hotel in the city of Chernobyl. It is a completely safe and, perhaps, more exciting adventure than just a day trip for a few hours.

Also, tourists are advised not to miss Kyiv. This great city is definitely worth a visit.

WHAT WILL ONE SEE WHEN VISITING THE EXCUSIVE ZONE?

Interesting places of the Chernobyl zone:

• Pripyat Amusement Park.
• Swimming pool, Pripyat.
• Pripyat Hospital.
• Bridge Of Death, Chernobyl.
• Red Forest.
• Secret radar DUGA-1 (Chernobyl 2).
• Elephant Foot, Chernobyl.
• Abandoned Cargo Port.
• Graveyard of ships and barges.
• NPP Observation deck and the Sarcophagus, Chernobyl.
• Cooling tower.

FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE EXCLUSION ZONE

Since for more than 30 years, the Exclusion Zone practically did not experience human intervention, unique conditions for the development of wildlife developed here: visitors can see lynxes, elks, giant bison, as well as wild horses, bison, bears, wolves and other rare animals.

WHAT SHOULD TOURISTS KNOW?

• Some places are still closed to tourists due to radiation risks, for example, the basement of a hospital where rescue equipment and clothing were dropped. There is still very powerful gamma radiation.
• Visitors must undergo radiation control when leaving the Exclusion Zone.
• A curfew is in force in Chernobyl.
• It is forbidden to touch and take with you any objects.
• Do not to pick mushrooms, berries or other plants.
• Clothing should completely cover the body.
• Only persons over the age of 18 are allowed to visit the Exclusion Zone.