Ukraine to open Chernobyl area to tourists in 2011

[SecularMotion]

Source: Washington Post

KIEV, Ukraine -- Want a better understanding of the world's worst nuclear disaster? Come tour the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Beginning next year, Ukraine plans to open up the sealed zone around the Chernobyl reactor to visitors who wish to learn more about the tragedy that occurred nearly a quarter of a century ago, the Emergency Situations Ministry said Monday.

Chernobyl's reactor No. 4 exploded on April 26, 1986, spewing radiation over a large swath of northern Europe. Hundreds of thousands of people were resettled from areas contaminated with radiation fallout in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. Related health problems still persist.

The so-called exclusion zone, a highly contaminated area within a 30-mile (48-kilometer) radius of the exploded reactor, was evacuated and sealed off in the aftermath of the explosion. All visits were prohibited.

Today, about 2,500 employees maintain the remains of the now-closed nuclear plant, working in shifts to minimize their exposure to radiation. Several hundred evacuees have returned to their villages in the area despite a government ban. A few firms now offer tours to the restricted area, but the government says those tours are illegal and their safety is not guaranteed.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/13/AR2010121301351.html

[MNBrewer]

1. Ooo! I can hardly wait?

while it IS an interesting sight, I think it'd be pretty creepy.

[valerief]

2. Who the F would tour it like it was a vacation destination? Fox viewers. nt

[TomClash]

3. I'll bet it will get . . .

. . . positively "glowing" reviews as the next hot tourist destination.

[Vinnie From Indy]

4. The gift shop should be quite interesting

12 leaf clovers
three headed goldfish
a pet rock that can cook dinner on camping trips

[Crowman1979]

5. Gee what's next? Mountain climbing in Tora Bora, a safari in the DR of Congo or maybe...

a river cruise on the Tigris river. :eyes:

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. Scuba diving in the Gulf of Mexico , followed by all you can eat shrimp boil.

[abqmufc]

6. Capitalism stops at nothing to make a buck...pathetic.

Spend some money leave with a glow and the risk of your off-spring having 3 eyes.

[Zywiec]

7. I visited three years ago

There are several companies that offer tours. Here is the one I went on:

http://tourkiev.com/chernobyltour/

It was fascinating to visit the abandoned city and see all of the old propaganda signs still visible.

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. How did you know you were not in any radiation danger???

[Zywiec]

15. We were checked twice while leaving the exclusion area

and our guide carried a Geiger counter. I was only there for a few hours, there are people who work there for a couple weeks on and then off for a couple of weeks.

[Dr.Phool]

8. Maybe that's where Boner got his perma-tan!

[LiberalEsto]

9. And at Christmas they can all sing

Chestnuts Roasting Without a Fire

Rudolph, the Red, Green and Purple-Nosed Reindeer

Santa Baby (Our Kid was Born with a Big White Beard)

Uranium Bells


:hide:

[Taverner]

10. You can already do it - you just have to stay in the safe areas

[Xenotime]

11. Yea...like Romania.

[Name removed]

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