Has anyone ever been to Pripyat (the Chernobyl ghost town)?

[sn00pie]

I have this urge to go visit Pripyat in the Ukraine. It's the village where most of the Chernobyl power plant workers lived. I'm not sure what it is, but for some reason it fascinates the hell out of me.

Nowadays it's a ghost town in the Chernobyl Zone of Alienation.

This town of 55,000 people was evacuated in 1986. People were told to pack for three days - when in fact none of them were ever to return there. Obviously radiation levels have dropped since the Chernobyl accident, so it's relatively safe out there for short visits.

They say it's one of the most eery and humbling places in the world. People have called their visits to the town life changing.

Has anyone ever been there? What was it like?

 

[Dave A]

No I've never been there, I know a bit about the Chernobyl incident though and it would be very interesting to go some day. Don't know if I'd do it while it's just relatively safe though.

 

[Pupik]

http://www.kiddofspeed.com

I keep going to this website every year or so; otherwise, words escape me. This area is simply frozen in 1986, although it looks like it's 100 years old.

 

[sn00pie]

http://www.kiddofspeed.com

I keep going to this website every year or so; otherwise, words escape me. This area is simply frozen in 1986, although it looks like it's 100 years old.

Yeah I've read her website before, extremely fascinating stuff. 👍

 

[Philly]

This area is simply frozen in 1986, although it looks like it's 100 years old.

That would be really interesting to and visit. Not only to see a ghost town (and not one related to the "Wild West" ones), but also to get a peek into life during the Soviet era. It would be more a trip of curiosity than pleasure. But then again, while I was at it, I would like to explore much of the rest of the Soviet world.

 

[Zrow]

I would really love to someday. It seems really incredible. Is there usually anyone there at all at any given time?

 

[SolidSnake15]

Chernobyl is that place in Russia that blew up right?

 

[ExigeEvan]

I'd go provided I wouldn't set off any radiation detectors at the airport

But yes, it would be a truly memorable experience. However, if you want to experience humbling, have you thought of visiting Auschwitz?

 

[Formula1Driver]

Might have to go and put my ghillie suit on for this trip.

Seriously though, it would actually be a very interesting trip to see how people's lives were destroyed during that terrible accident.

 

[ND4SPD]

http://www.kiddofspeed.com

I keep going to this website every year or so; otherwise, words escape me. This area is simply frozen in 1986, although it looks like it's 100 years old.

Wow that's incredible, yet spooky.

 

[zoxxy]

I've seen a show about that, the guides were carrying these Geiger-meters and they were crackling like crazy, so it still isn't all that safe. But I'd love to go there, must be a really scary soviety experience.

Edit: Just watched the Kiddofspeed thingie. I'd probably get nightmares if I ever went to that place. Old soviet stuff scare the living **** out of me.

 

[Slick6]

What made you think about this? I just found it strange after watching a special on the History channel about nuclear bunkers and coming here and seeing this topic. I agree this stuff is fascinating as well and I wouldn't mind taking a visit there, although I would probably wait until later in my life when I wouldn't be so conscientious. Featured in the show was a bit about the Greenbrier Bunker which was a secret for over 30 years. That would also be an interesting place to visit and quite a bit safer. Check it out. 👍

 

[exigeracer]

I haven't been there, but I have seen various abandoned Soviet military cities and bases. They were cleared out the same way when the Nazis swept through Eastern Europe, and these bases weren't reclaimed by the Soviets when they came back at the end of the war. It's completely barren, buildings still standing, but no sign of life whatsoever. The huge propaganda murals in the factories were particularly eerie. I also visited an execution ground, where 25,000 Jews were murdered in an eight day period. A memorial stand there now, but it is still exceptionally spooky. Worth the visit though.

 

[Blake]

The only thing stopping me from going is impending death.

 

[Spock]

I'd like to go there just to be in a desolated city.

But the the closest I will probably ever get is in the game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. :Shadows Of Chernobyl

 

[ceiling_fan]

I'd like to go there just to be in a desolated city.

Indeed. It would be totally surreal.

 

[Loon]

Am I the only one who wouldn't care to see that place? I could of gone my whole life not even seeing a picture of the place and I'd be fine with it. Maybe I just have lack of curiosity but this town is of no interest to me.

 

[Keef]

I think it's just crazy how it's all deserted. It's a fairly modern city and it's just there, in the middle of nowhere, and hardly a living animal anywhere near it. It's almost like it's always been there, and we've just now discovered it. I bet by the time it becomes habitable most of the world will have forgotten about it. I'm just stupefied by the fact that we can't even go in there and demolish it all. We'll just leave it there forever until somebody decides to try and live there again.

 

[McLaren]

The tours there are really short from what I hear, and not every area is accessable due to still high radiation. You're also not supposed to touch anything, which is the job for the workers who brought by rail into the city.

 

[Philly]

The tours there are really short from what I hear, and not every area is accessable due to still high radiation. You're also not supposed to touch anything, which is the job for the workers who brought by rail into the city.

That makes sense, but how can they take the liability of people touching things? It would be really hard to make sure nobody touches things, and a hefty lawsuit would undoubtedly follow. Maybe they make tourists sign a waver? Resistant gloves or something maybe?

 

[McLaren]

That makes sense, but how can they take the liability of people touching things? It would be really hard to make sure nobody touches things, and a hefty lawsuit would undoubtedly follow. Maybe they make tourists sign a waver? Resistant gloves or something maybe?

They probably can and will touch things, but I know it's highly discouraged you touch any item. I know you can be removed if you attempt to bring something out of The Zone.

 

[Turbo Lag]

http://www.kiddofspeed.com

I keep going to this website every year or so; otherwise, words escape me. This area is simply frozen in 1986, although it looks like it's 100 years old.

Wow if i went there, id get the crap scared outta me

 

[tait]

Indeed. It would be totally surreal.

Same. It's always been a dream of mine. You guys would also enjoy Gunkanjima.

A little clip on Chernobyl from all your friendly hipsters at Vice magazine (wait until a few minutes in); http://www.vbs.tv/player.php?bctid=715959234&bccl=NDcxODc0MzkwX19FVEM=

 

[Muzaffar]

Well this just got me thinking, would these places ever be inhabitable again? Just look how Hiroshima changed over the years (and i didn't even realize this )

before:

after:

 

[Flerbizky]

Well this just got me thinking, would these places ever be inhabitable again? Just look how Hiroshima changed over the years (and i didn't even realize this )

There's a big difference between the radiation levels - Nuclear Bomb vs. Open Reactor Nuclear Meltdown, as the latter is much much higher, and hence rendering the area useless for much longer. - I can't put any numbers on this difference though, you'll have to wait for Famine for those.. The area surrounding Chernobyl will probably be inhabitable again in around 25-2600...

 

[Muzaffar]

There's a big difference between the radiation levels - Nuclear Bomb vs. Open Reactor Nuclear Meltdown, as the latter is much much higher, and hence rendering the area useless for much longer. - I can't put any numbers on this difference though, you'll have to wait for Famine for those.. The area surrounding Chernobyl will probably be inhabitable again in around 25-2600...

Wow.....that would be almost impossible for anyone to live there ever again.... I mean, it is the worst nuclear plant disaster ever at level 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale. It is difficult how did they manage to live under those circumstances during that day. Everyone really had very little chance of avoiding radiation and dying of cancer. But still, i think no one would be able to go near the nuclear reactor number four for the next few centuries....

 

[Pupik]

Same. It's always been a dream of mine. You guys would also enjoy Gunkanjima.

I read that Wikipedia entry a few months ago, it almost appears as if that city will collapse upon itself at any moment That it was the most densely-populated area of the world at one point is really quite amazing!

 

[Michael88]

Everyone really had very little chance of avoiding radiation and dying of cancer. But still, i think no one would be able to go near the nuclear reactor number four for the next few centuries....

(concrete blocks around the reactor protect the already pollutet area of even more radiation pollution)

Thats a guy who was still working at chernobyl block three which was active until year 2000. Block 4 is the one that exploded.

 

[Metar]

I just found this bit hilarious:

I have never had problems with the dosimeter guys, who man the checkpoints. They are experts, and if they find radiation on you vehicle, they give it a chemical shower. I don't count those couple of times when "experts" tried to invent an excuse to give me a shower, because those had a lot more to do with physical biology than biological physics.

But it sounds like an awfully interesting place.

 

[Sting]

As Mr Spock would say.... fascinating.

It's very interesting to hear about this stuff. According to Kiddofspeed the concrete barrier is starting to disintegrate and a new one will have to be built. Wonder how that will be achieved.