The sunny Kyrgyzstan, which is famous for its wonderful mountain scenery and fertile soils, has areas that are contaminated with nuclear waste. The most polluted is a fabulously beautiful mountain region Mailu-Suu. Tests of nuclear weapons were never conducted there and nuclear power plants were never built. During the past decades, uranium was being mined at these places. The environment is suffering because of this industrial activity. Huge amounts of radioactive elements are vented daily.
In 1946, the eponymous industrial city was founded in Mailuu-Suu district, whose residents were employed in the mining business. The name of the mountain area is literally translated as the oily water. In 1903, large deposits of oil have been discovered there. Uranium mines were closed in 1968. It was decided to build a new lamp factory instead of mines, which would provide job to citizens.
Despite the fact that the plant operates successfully, the city looks very neglected. During a walk through its streets, you can see two-story old wooden houses. One of the new buildings in Mailuu-Suu is a mosque. Even 50 years ago, the city's population was about 8 000 people. Now, during a walk through the streets it’s hardly possible to see one or two of the townspeople. The city preserved many old monuments and squares. The place is regularly visited by fans of walking through abandoned towns and districts. It’s worth remembering that the area is dangerous for the health and life, and now the radiation level here is still one of the highest in the world.
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Useful staff nearby
Fuel station: 'АЗС Газпромнефть 82' in 20 km
Police station: 'Police Station' in 34 km
Cafe/restaurant: 'Бакыт' in 25 km
Railway station: 'Uckurgon' in 34 km