Chernobyl Excursion Insights: Exploring Pripyat’s Secrets
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Chapter 1: Journey to Pripyat
The journey to Pripyat, located just a few kilometers from the Chernobyl station, is a brief one, taking only a few minutes by road. Along the route, tourists encounter the iconic “Pripyat” stele. However, upon arrival, a large group of tourists and several parked buses prompt our guides to postpone a stop there until the return trip.
The entrance to Chernobyl is heavily secured, which is expected, but I was surprised to learn that Pripyat itself is also under strict surveillance. While I was aware of the patrols in the area, I didn’t realize there was a dedicated checkpoint for entering Pripyat, surrounded by fencing.
The checkpoint serves as the final touchpoint of civilization before venturing into the abandoned city. Due to safety concerns regarding food contamination from airborne particles and the lack of organized dining options during the pandemic, our lunch takes place on the bus before we embark on a nearly three-hour walking tour around the city.
Once we pass the checkpoint, we enter Pripyat and make our way toward the town center. The guides split the tourists into three groups: one for English speakers and two for Russian speakers. Each group is dropped off at designated locations near the center, beginning their exploration along separate routes to maintain order.
Section 1.1: Discovering the “Dead City”
We disembark on a road that lies between former residential areas and the downtown district. For safety reasons, we step off the main road onto a quieter side street. Given the minimal traffic, it’s essential to stay alert as drivers may speed through without caution.
Here, our guide begins an engaging narrative about Pripyat’s history, covering events before the disaster, during the clean-up, and up to the present. His insights could fill an entire series of articles, but I’ll provide just a glimpse in the accompanying video, allowing you to experience the unique atmosphere of this once-thriving city.
After some time, we make our way to the amusement park, which is just a short stroll away. We arrive at the famous Ferris wheel, where the guide allows us 15 minutes to explore the area but warns us not to touch it due to the risk of contamination.
As the group disperses around the amusement area, some take photos while others launch drones (note that flying drones in much of Pripyat is prohibited due to proximity to the nuclear station). The recordings will be checked upon exit, as prior registration is required to bring a drone into the exclusion zone.
Section 1.2: Insights from the Guide
Once we reconvene with the guide at the meeting point, a portion of our group gathers around him. He shares the history of the amusement park, revealing both myths and real incidents associated with it. The wealth of information he provides is impressive, and while I won’t delve into all the details here, it’s worth noting the depth of his knowledge.
As we prepare to measure radiation levels, the guide instructs everyone to take out their dosimeters. The readings show about 30 particles per cm² (the standard being 20), but when he brings the dosimeter close to a small pile of dust on the asphalt, it alarms at around 5,000 to 6,500 beta particles per cm².
Following this, we head to the central square of Pripyat. Unfortunately, accessing the buildings is no longer permitted due to their dilapidated condition, which even deters the more daring explorers known as stalkers. Additionally, motion detectors are installed in key locations to alert the guards of any unauthorized entry.
As we walk through the streets, our guide continues to share a wealth of information, demonstrating his passion for the subject. Near a restaurant, he raises a dosimeter near a sewer grate, and it registers an alarming 23,000 to 30,000 beta particles per cm². A meter away, the dosimeter remains quiet, illustrating how beta radiation is less penetrating in open air.
After a brief window for photos around the square, we await the arrival of our bus. Unfortunately, the English-speaking group is delayed, forcing us to wait an additional 15 minutes. During this time, our guide entertains us with tales of mountain hikers who encountered radiation exposure while the storm clouds gather ominously overhead. Eventually, the last group arrives just as the first raindrops begin to fall, prompting us to leave the city.
As the rain barely misses us, we head to our next destination, the “Duga” radar system, where you can read about our experiences in the following part of this series...