Chernobyl…
Where do I start!
Had an awesome action packed beer drenched week-long trip in the zone. I took 1400 photos, and saw some amazing sites in Pripyat.
I’m going to start with Chernobyl Nuclear power plant, as it is a once in a lifetime site. It is my first nuclear power plant (!) and although originally sceptical about radiation levels, the dose I received in my 3 hour visit should be acceptable. Our tour guide had worked at the plant for 26 years!
There was, understandably, a vast amount of security and ID checks to enter the plant. Although the station is long decommissioned, there is still plenty of activity around here, and will be for the foreseeable future. We had a comprehensive briefing on the disaster before entry, then some security and were led to the new sarcophagus construction yard. Some more security & lengthy ID checks, dressed up in all lab coats, foot covers & hat, more security, then inside the nuclear power plant. An exceptionally long corridor linked the 4 reactors. Control rooms for each nuclear reactor on the left, and turbine halls on the right. Nuclear Reactor 2 control room was a real highlight. I have never seen so many buttons & dials. Radiation was surprisingly low here. Then on to the wall beside the reactor 4, which had the accident. The giger counter went bonkers. Moving swiftly on to Nuclear reactor 3 turbine hall, which was very impressive. Finally more security, and radiation checks, and the monument outside. An outstanding visit.
I’ve got loads of photos of Pripyat, and the partially built reactor cooling tower for reactor 5, which was never finishsed. All to follow.
Explored with the excellent company of Stig, Auntieknickers, The Lone Ranger & two non members.
History
The history is well documented on the net. In summary:
The Chernobyl disaster happened on 26 April 1986, in Ukraine, former USSR.
An explosion & fire released large quantiies of radioactive particles into the atmosphere over current day Ukraine & Belarus. It was the worst nuclear disaster in history. It is one of only two level 7 events (the other being Fukushima in 2011. To contain the contamination cost a lot money and a lot of lives. The other 3 nuclear reactors were restarted the same year, and were not decommissioned for some years later.
The new sarcophagus
Lets go inside.....
the 800M long golden corridor
Control rooms for each of the 4 reactors on the left. Turbine halls on the right
REACTOR 2 CONTROL ROOM
Sooo many buttons and dials
This is the wall next to exploded reactor 4
REACTOR 3 TURBINE HALL
The power plant
Lab coats & tripods
Radiaton check
Monument
This is a model of exploded reactor no 4
And this explains how the will move the new sarcophagus into position (best explained in the pictures!)
Thanks for looking
Where do I start!
Had an awesome action packed beer drenched week-long trip in the zone. I took 1400 photos, and saw some amazing sites in Pripyat.
I’m going to start with Chernobyl Nuclear power plant, as it is a once in a lifetime site. It is my first nuclear power plant (!) and although originally sceptical about radiation levels, the dose I received in my 3 hour visit should be acceptable. Our tour guide had worked at the plant for 26 years!
There was, understandably, a vast amount of security and ID checks to enter the plant. Although the station is long decommissioned, there is still plenty of activity around here, and will be for the foreseeable future. We had a comprehensive briefing on the disaster before entry, then some security and were led to the new sarcophagus construction yard. Some more security & lengthy ID checks, dressed up in all lab coats, foot covers & hat, more security, then inside the nuclear power plant. An exceptionally long corridor linked the 4 reactors. Control rooms for each nuclear reactor on the left, and turbine halls on the right. Nuclear Reactor 2 control room was a real highlight. I have never seen so many buttons & dials. Radiation was surprisingly low here. Then on to the wall beside the reactor 4, which had the accident. The giger counter went bonkers. Moving swiftly on to Nuclear reactor 3 turbine hall, which was very impressive. Finally more security, and radiation checks, and the monument outside. An outstanding visit.
I’ve got loads of photos of Pripyat, and the partially built reactor cooling tower for reactor 5, which was never finishsed. All to follow.
Explored with the excellent company of Stig, Auntieknickers, The Lone Ranger & two non members.
History
The history is well documented on the net. In summary:
The Chernobyl disaster happened on 26 April 1986, in Ukraine, former USSR.
An explosion & fire released large quantiies of radioactive particles into the atmosphere over current day Ukraine & Belarus. It was the worst nuclear disaster in history. It is one of only two level 7 events (the other being Fukushima in 2011. To contain the contamination cost a lot money and a lot of lives. The other 3 nuclear reactors were restarted the same year, and were not decommissioned for some years later.
The new sarcophagus
Lets go inside.....
the 800M long golden corridor
Control rooms for each of the 4 reactors on the left. Turbine halls on the right
REACTOR 2 CONTROL ROOM
Sooo many buttons and dials
This is the wall next to exploded reactor 4
REACTOR 3 TURBINE HALL
The power plant
Lab coats & tripods
Radiaton check
Monument
This is a model of exploded reactor no 4
And this explains how the will move the new sarcophagus into position (best explained in the pictures!)
Thanks for looking