Pripyat

On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded. It sent seriously dangerous levels of radiation billowing into the sky. The city of Pripyat was nearby. It housed the families of the Chernobyl workers. Immediately, the city was mobilized. Mass evacuation of the city was ordered, and the people were told that they would only be gone for a short time. There was no time to take their things. It was explained that they could come back later. I suppose that the way the evacuation was handled kept panic at bay, but the reality was that these people would never return home again…never. Since that day, almost forty years has passed, and nature has slowly overtaken the city. The trees are growing up through the once vibrant streets. Water and neglect have damaged the buildings, and they are crumbling. Pripyat was once a bustling city of 49,000 people, and now it is a ghost town. Oddly, the city has attracted visitors and tourists, even knowing its history and the possibility of radiation poisoning. To visit the city, tourists must apply for permission to go to Pripyat with a guide. On occasion, tourists who are permitted to go there, but more “tourists” go there without permission and roam about illegally. To do this, they must dodge security (including helicopters!) and constantly have the threat of capture hanging over their heads.

I simply can’t imagine why anyone would go to Pripyat, because many of the prior residents faced grave health problems due to their exposure. Visitors are only allowed to spend a minimal amount of time in the “zone” because of the level of exposure they would receive. Curiosity is the key reason, of course, but at what cost. Simply to say that you have walked those streets? It just makes no sense to me at all. They are lots of pictures you can view, and even to a degree, Google Earth. Still, I suppose it is not like being there. Nevertheless, I’m not sure being there would be such a great thing.

Oddly, the wildlife seems to be thriving in the area, although, I doubt they would be suitable for hunting or eating. Roaming around in the area has likely caused them to absorb radiation. I’m not sure what that would do to the wildlife, but it couldn’t be a good thing. Nevertheless, animals like deer, wolves, foxes, and even rare Przewalski’s horses roam the area. The trees are thriving, the grass was thriving, there may have even been flowers blooming, but the city was not a safe place to be. Chernobyl had changed all that forever, and that was likely the end of it. I suppose time will eventually tell, but only if proper testing is done to make sure that the area is safe would the area be considered safe for most people. I still don’t know if I would venture into the city. he whole atmosphere seems very dangerous to me.