Nuclear Dark Tourism: Pripyat/ Chernobyl, Ukraine
The 1986 Chernobyl disaster is one of the worst nuclear accidents. 32 people died in the accident, and countless others, possibly up to 70,000 suffered from the effects of radiation. In addition, Pripyat, two miles from Chernobyl, had to be quickly evacuated. Pripyat was the home of many Chernobyl workers and their families. Shortly after the accident, the families had to prepare for a brief evacuation.
Many left almost all their personal possession and mementos behind, believing they would be back after the emergency. They would never be back. Pripyat is frozen in time. Nurseries with Soviet-era books and toys wait for children who will never play with them. The iconic Ferris wheel looms over the city for a population that will never roam its streets again. There are tours that explore Pripyat under controlled conditions, and despite the radiation hotspots, it is a popular destination for urban explorers.
