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Construction of Chernobyl's reactors number 5 & 6 continued throughout the night of the explosion at the 4th nuclear power plant. If the glow of the fire wasn't visible from the upper levels then as dawn broke the smoke must have been. Despite the disaster unfolding next door at 8am that morning the 286 construction workers of the day shift clocked on. Construction work on 5 and 6 was soon stopped but resumed again on the 10th October 1986. Six months later on the 24 April 1987 work was once again halted and on May 23 1989 the decision was made not to complete the reactors. Reactor 5 was approximately 70% complete at the time of the accident. The 6th was scheduled for completion in 1994. When functioning Reactors 5 and 6 would have been capable of producing 1,000 MWs each.
This was a highlight of the trip, somewhere none of us were expecting to see and a crazy experience involving many sketchy obstacles. Definitely not one for the faint hearted, some of the rusty staircases and ladders would've made a whore blush (sorry I couldn't think of the right metaphor). Then we had to balance on wobbly beams with drops disappearing into the darkness to reach the reactor room. Still amazed that we were allowed to go up there in all honesty but it's a different set of rules over there. The tourist trade has been slow since the conflict with Russia began so the guides were keen to impress. Hope you enjoy the pics.
This was a highlight of the trip, somewhere none of us were expecting to see and a crazy experience involving many sketchy obstacles. Definitely not one for the faint hearted, some of the rusty staircases and ladders would've made a whore blush (sorry I couldn't think of the right metaphor). Then we had to balance on wobbly beams with drops disappearing into the darkness to reach the reactor room. Still amazed that we were allowed to go up there in all honesty but it's a different set of rules over there. The tourist trade has been slow since the conflict with Russia began so the guides were keen to impress. Hope you enjoy the pics.
1. Our first look at the place the day we arrived in the zone
2. On the approach we had no idea we would be allowed to climb to the top
3. One of many rusty old cranes surrounding the plant
4.
5.
6. Construction materials strewn everywhere on the ground
7. Some of the better steps and ladders....
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10.
11.
12. A collapsed crane lies on it's side below
13.
14. Some of the sketchier ladders....
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21. This was the room where the nuclear reactors were destined to be placed
22. A murky view across to reactors 1, 2, 3 & 4
Cheers for looking
2. On the approach we had no idea we would be allowed to climb to the top
3. One of many rusty old cranes surrounding the plant
4.
5.
6. Construction materials strewn everywhere on the ground
7. Some of the better steps and ladders....
8.
9.
10.
11.
12. A collapsed crane lies on it's side below
13.
14. Some of the sketchier ladders....
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21. This was the room where the nuclear reactors were destined to be placed
22. A murky view across to reactors 1, 2, 3 & 4
Cheers for looking
