Pripyat - The deserted city

ChrisMClark

ChrisMClark

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For those that don't know, Pripyat was the city built to house employees of Chernobyl NPP and their families. At 0123hrs on April 26th 1986 reactor 4 suffered a huge power surge (an uncontrolled chain reaction not dissimilar to a nuclear weapon explosion) which resulted in a massive steam explosion that spewed radioactive matter into the atmosphere, with elevated radiation being measured all across Eaurope, even as far as our own UK shores. The tragic city of Pripyat is located virtually next door, so you can imagine how high the rads were there. The population of the city had been around 50,000 (similar to Weymouth, Dorset).

The entire population of the city was evacuated, many taking with them only the clothes they wore, which were soon detroyed. The people had nothing, lost everything, leaving it all behind in Pripyat.

Sorry to ramble on, but for the following video to have an impact you need to know the history. The history of the Chernobyl disaster is fascinating, as well as heart crushingly tragic. Stories of unbelievable heroism are commonplace, as are stories of utter tragedy.

[YOUTUBE]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-8TU1xL8EAg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-8TU1xL8EAg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE]

All told the human cost was 56 deaths directly attributable to the disaster. Not so bad you might think? That's only people killed by the blast. 600,000 people suffered radiation poisoning, and at least 4,000 of those died from cancer as a direct result of exposure. There are believed to be a further 100,000 cases of cancer just from living near there.

Edit: Got it working :woot:
 
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No vid Chris but if you can get it working it sounds very interesting
 
ChrisMClark said:
For those that don't know, Pripyat was the city built to house employees of Chernobyl NPP and their families. At 0123hrs on April 26th 1986 reactor 4 suffered a huge power surge (an uncontrolled chain reaction not dissimilar to a nuclear weapon explosion) which resulted in a massive steam explosion that spewed radioactive matter into the atmosphere, with elevated radiation being measured all across Eaurope, even as far as our own UK shores. The tragic city of Pripyat is located virtually next door, so you can imagine how high the rads were there. The population of the city had been around 50,000 (similar to Weymouth, Dorset).

The entire population of the city was evacuated, many taking with them only the clothes they wore, which were soon detroyed. The people had nothing, lost everything, leaving it all behind in Pripyat.

Sorry to ramble on, but for the following video to have an impact you need to know the history. The history of the Chernobyl disaster is fascinating, as well as heart crushingly tragic. Stories of unbelievable heroism are commonplace, as are stories of utter tragedy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8TU1xL8EAg

All told the human cost was 56 deaths directly attributable to the disaster. Not so bad you might think? That's only people killed by the blast. 600,000 people suffered radiation poisoning, and at least 4,000 of those died from cancer as a direct result of exposure. There are believed to be a further 100,000 cases of cancer just from living near there.

Edit: Is the video working? I just get a big white square? If not can a kind mod please make it work?
Click to expand...

I made it a link for now
HTH
 
I'm surprised it's safe to be there!!!!!
 
It is indeed, it's a 5 minute video tour of the city.

EDIT: MM, it's not safe to be there for any longer than a couple of hours. The general sketch is you pay for a guided your through a travel agent in Kiev, its about £35 I think. You spend 2 hours in Pripyat, then motor on up to the NPP for about 5 minutes. Then you hop in the vehicle and nail it out of the zone, to be thoroughly tested for radiation at the checkpoint on the edge of the 'Zone of Alienation'.
 
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scarey
looks like you have it working now! :clap:
 
Very eerie it does make you wonder where everything went like the TV cabinet that was empty and the windows all smashed very eerie thanks for putting it up
 
It's been looted mercilessly over the years. It used to be almost a museum, it was a perfect snapshot of how life was. But the whole 26 mile exclusion zone became a haven for criminals. The odd thing is the lack of grafiti.
 
Fascinating but tragic. What an incredible place to take photographs though!
 
ChrisMClark said:
It's been looted mercilessly over the years. It used to be almost a museum, it was a perfect snapshot of how life was. But the whole 26 mile exclusion zone became a haven for criminals. The odd thing is the lack of grafiti.
Click to expand...

I would think there are serious disadvantages to nicking radioactive goods!!!
 
TriggerHappy said:
Fascinating but tragic. What an incredible place to take photographs though!
Click to expand...

2 hours would never be enough though. There was a Ukranian woman who rode her motorbike right up to Reactor hall 4 and took some awesome pictures. She's done it a few times. Best shot I've seen was a tree growing through a concrete floor in what used to be someone's living room.
 
I posted a link on here to this chap who went on a guided tour to Chernobyl, interesting stuff but quite spooky in a way. Still I reckon I'd like to visit somewhere like this, just to see it myself.
 
MikeeB said:
I posted a link on here to this chap who went on a guided tour to Chernobyl, interesting stuff but quite spooky in a way. Still I reckon I'd like to visit somewhere like this, just to see it myself.
Click to expand...

Likewise, and if I ever get the chance I'd jump on it.
 
It is a place that does interest me. I have seen many links to various shots and articles, but i'm not sure if i would want to visit, due to the possible health implications. Nobody can be 100% sure of the effects can they.....

I have been to Pompeii and that place was very eerie, knowing what happened in an instant there and also seeing some of the 'bodies' was very moving.
 
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