Checkpoint
With Chernobyl being a remnant of the Soviet Union, the entire complex is now managed by the Ukrainians, whom gained independence in 1991. To visit the site, it's necessary to apply for - and receive - permission from the Ministry of Interior. This involves submitting your name, passport details and job title to the relevant body. Some tour operators will arrange this, so you can just kick back and enjoy the two hour ride on dodgy half-finished roads 65 miles north of Kiev. You'll soon encounter the 30 km outer exclusion zone checkpoint where your details will be processed. Incidentally, Chernobyl lies just 10 km from neighbouring Belarus in where over 70% of the radioactive fallout settled.
Big Spender
Spent fuel rods are maintained here. Not totally exciting, unless you happen to be connoisseur of nuclear waste.
Road to Reactor 4
Chernobyl is a huge complex, comprising six reactors and their associated auxillary buildings. In fact, to this day, a few thousand people still work there, toiling for fifteen day then taking fifteen days off. | Half Built
On the night of the explosion at Reactor 4, Reactors 5 and 6 were under construction and thus, left incompleted. I can't help but think in one of those crane cabs are some very mouldy cheese sandwiches. |
