The Ukrainian city of Pripyat has always been associated with one of the most horrible disasters in the world over the past decade – an explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. That was the construction of the plant that marked the beginning of a new settlement. Pripyat was officially proclaimed a city in 1979 and had grown to a population of more than 47 000 people by the time it was evacuated, seven years later. On April 28, 1986, the very next day after the explosion the "City of Atomic Scientists" was almost empty.
The deserted city is located on the banks of the nearby Pripyat River. The city itself and the surrounding areas have been so badly contaminated by radiation fallout that they were declared a danger zone. The main threat to visitors is radioactive dust that has ingrained in the soil, trees and buildings.
Tourists are attracted to these places by a chance to explore the abandoned buildings. The citizens were leaving so quickly that many of them left a lot of things inside. Pripyat still maintains the status of the city, although no one lives there for a long time. Every year once residents of the city visit their abandoned piece of homeland to meet up with friends and like-minded people who have experienced that terrible tragedy. Traditionally meetings take place in early May. Just for a few days Pripyat comes alive, human voices and traffic sounds are heard through the city.
Next - San Zhi
Bodie, USA
San Zhi, Taiwan
Useful staff nearby
Cafe/restaurant: 'Cafe Jetty' in 0.57 km
Railway station: 'Semykhody station' in 2.98 km
Nearest airports:
» Zhuliany Airport IEV - in 115 km
» Boryspil Airport KBP - in 131 km