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Server Time:
2024-05-09 05:58:02
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 Vivo
Location: Newcastle, UK
Gender: Male
 |  | Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
< on 4/26/2008 2:50 PM >
|  | | | Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the catastrophic disaster at Reactor 4. The explosion remains the worst nuclear disaster the world has ever seen. The fallout from the explosion surpassed that of Hiroshima or Nagasaki and spread across the entire of Europe, even reaching the Eastern Seaboard of the US.
Earlier this week I, along with six others, flew out to Kyiv, Ukraine to visit this infamous place. We were picked up from our hotel early in the morning by our guide, Maxim, and set off towards our destination, passing through many villages resembling those of 'Borat'.
To reach Pripyat you must pass through three military checkpoints, each requiring different permission. These are the 30km zone, the 10km zone, and the Pripay city limit. Not everyone who can enter the 30km zone is allowed to enter the 10km zone, and again with Pripyat which is reserved almost strictly for photographers.
Driving through the 30km zone we could see literally hundreds of abandoned buildings within the surrounding forest. 300,000 people were rehoused due to the disaster. 'Chernobyl 2' was also visible on the horizon. The urg
e to stop and check these out was strong but we had to press on.
Driving away from the 10km zone.
The 10km zone is reserved for those who still work at Chernobyl Powerstation. At the moment the powerplant is still operational but is in the process of being decommisioned.
Reactors 5 and 6, which were still being built at the time of the explosion.
An unfinished cooling tower for Reactor 5.
The main powerstation offices. These building join all the reactors together.
This was the last point along the road before photography was restricted. You can see Reactor 3 in the background with Reactor 4 behind that.
After the explosion at Reactor 4 the people of Pripyat flocked on the railway bridge just outside the city to get a good view of the reactor and see what had happened. Initially, everyone was told that radiation level was minimal and that they were safe. Little did they know that much of the radiation had been blown onto this bridge in a huge spike. The levels here were very near lethal.
Right now enough of the stories, and just some photos. If you do want to read about each photo, simply click it to go to the flickr page.
Sorry if I've done something wrong. First report.
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PhotoSeeker
    
Location: Sudbury
Gender: Male
MikeOnline
| |  | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 1 on 4/26/2008 3:00 PM >
| | | | Great set of shots! This is my holy grail... to get there one day and be able to explore it as thoroughly as I can.
Love what you've done with the pics. I think it's a sign I should lay off the video games when I can actually recognize some of the pictures from Call of Duty 4. lol
Lots of Urban Exploration goodness at https://urbexobsession.com |
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Vivo
Location: Newcastle, UK
Gender: Male
| | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 2 on 4/26/2008 3:16 PM >
| | | | It isn't quite as identical to COD4 as I thought but they've done a damn good job.
They actually banned entering buildings two months ago and it is an offence under military law to do so. I'd hurry up and get over there if I was you. A couple of buildings have already collapsed and it's pretty much a certainty there will be nothing left at all in 10 years time.
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PhotoSeeker
Location: Sudbury
Gender: Male
MikeOnline
| | | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 3 on 4/26/2008 5:02 PM >
| | | | Noted. Thanks for the tip. 
Lots of Urban Exploration goodness at https://urbexobsession.com |
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Orofein
Location: Ia
Gender: Male
We were never in this together.
| | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 4 on 4/26/2008 5:15 PM >
| | | | My goal in life is to visit Chernobyl.. really nice shots.
50 stars to blind your eyes, 13 stripes to hypnotize
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_liss_
Location: Hudson Valley,NY
Gender: Female
| |  | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 5 on 4/26/2008 9:06 PM >
| | | | thank you,thank you,thank you!these shots are incredible and you are lucky to be able to go.
do permissions to get into the area cost money? if so how much?
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Azubi.UK
Location: UK / KSA
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 6 on 4/26/2008 10:44 PM >
| | | | Nice pics mate, some of them came out really well. As vivo has said, some of the buildings have already started to collapse, with one side of one of the schools pretty much gone. The guards who patrol Pripyat make it a bit harder to access buildings too, and I don't really blame our minder not wanting to risk his job too many times by letting us in every building.
We pretty much had the place to ourselves that day as trips weren't meant to be running that day with the President visiting the day after and we only saw a couple of journalists getting some footage who I had a bit of a chat with. She asked me if Chernobyl was 'famous' in our country.
Vivo you cheeky git! Just seen the tag of that photo with me in! :p
The 11th Commandment: Don't get caught! |
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Shr-eddie
Location: Toronto
Gender: Male
| | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 7 on 4/27/2008 1:50 AM >
| | | | One of the best sets I've seen from Chernobyl. What a tease.
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yokes
Location: Toronto
Gender: Male
I aim to misbehave
| | | | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 8 on 4/27/2008 2:51 AM >
| | | | Top notch set!
"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel |
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Mutt
Moderator
Location: Bunbury, Western Australia
Support your local Funeral Director ----- Drop Dead!
| | | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 9 on 4/28/2008 2:57 AM >
| | | | Definitely the best set of shots I've seen from the area.
Thank you for taking a shot of the boats. I've looked at that area on Google Earth and wondered what it looked like from ground level.
All men are cremated equal. |
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airmyles13
Gender: Male
| | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 10 on 4/28/2008 6:28 AM >
| | | | Posted by PhotoSeeker
Great set of shots! This is my holy grail... to get there one day and be able to explore it as thoroughly as I can.
Love what you've done with the pics. I think it's a sign I should lay off the video games when I can actually recognize some of the pictures from Call of Duty 4. lol
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Amazing set of pics... this is one of (if not the) most stunning and amazing abandoned cities on the planet. Although I'd love to explore there, I'm just a tad worried about the radiation level 
Totally agree with the Call of Duty 4 quote... I was playing that tonight, so that drove me to see if I could try and find something on Chernobyl here.
Again, BEAUTIFUL pictures!
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Vivo
Location: Newcastle, UK
Gender: Male
| | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 11 on 4/28/2008 9:14 AM >
| | | | Posted by Mutt
Definitely the best set of shots I've seen from the area.
Thank you for taking a shot of the boats. I've looked at that area on Google Earth and wondered what it looked like from ground level.
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Supposedly, there are less than 10% left of the ghostships. These ships will not sink as they are already resting atop sunken barges and oil tankers. I regret not shooting the whole scene but I couldn't be bothered to walk back to the van and switch lenses.
I have a photo somewhere of what the dock looked like in 1996. I'll try and put a scan up.
Also, I think people are more scared of radiation than it is worth. You aren't going to fry or go green. The Ukrainian President spent the entire day there the day after us. If it is safe enough to allow the country's leader to stroll around it unhindered then it's safe enough for me.
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BikerSC
Location: SW Michigan
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 12 on 4/28/2008 12:00 PM >
| | | | Posted by Orofein
My goal in life is to visit Chernobyl.. really nice shots.
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Me too.
Thanks for sharing. This is an absolute great set. I envy your chance to visit. That places is so cool.
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Vivo
Location: Newcastle, UK
Gender: Male
| | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 13 on 4/28/2008 12:56 PM >
| | | | You make your own chances. To all those who have said they would like to go why haven't you done anything? You obviously can't want to go that much or you'd be already booked up.
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Robin
Location: China
Gender: Male
| |  |  | | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 14 on 4/28/2008 1:14 PM >
| | | | it,s perfect
!
really great
you did a good job man!
the pics is so nice
perfect perfect perfect!!!
[email protected]
INS:callmerobbinhood
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KublaKhan
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
With Satan, it's always gimmie, gimmie.
| | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 15 on 4/28/2008 9:26 PM >
| | | | Totally. Great shots. More, please.
"The truth is knowable. But probably not, ever, incontrovertible."
--Don DeLillo
PICS |
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nohbdy
Gender: Male
| | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 16 on 4/28/2008 11:25 PM >
| | | | can i have your babys?
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Vivo
Location: Newcastle, UK
Gender: Male
| | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 17 on 4/29/2008 12:15 AM >
| | | | I don't know if that is medically possible but thanks!
I'll post more up tomorrow night I think.
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Rorschach
Location: Mtl
Gender: Male
that which does not kill us makes us stronger
| | | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 18 on 4/29/2008 2:06 AM >
| | | | Hoooo lot of greats shots ! Amazing and Perfect post work. ^^
Congrat !
FlickR
t'as pas besoin d'un flash quand tu photographies un lapin qu'a deja les yeux rouges ! |
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imprezawrxsti
Location: Portland, OR
Gender: Male
nothing is true; everything is permitted
| | | Re: Chernobyl Nuclear Powerstation and the City of Pripyat 22/04/08
<Reply # 19 on 4/29/2008 5:47 AM >
| | | | if you don't mind me asking, how much was it to get permission? a few of us denverites are looking at going to Pripyat next year.
do you know how to waltz? |
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