Chernobyl: February 2008 Archives
Last week I started working on a cool project. The administrators at Pripyat.com created a website that functions as a directory/address book of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, called "Virtual Pripyat." They have documented most of the buildings in Pripyat, as well as the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant, the town of Chornobyl, and many villages scattered throughout the Zone. For the site’s address book, many former Pripyat residents have created accounts on the site and specified which buildings and specific apartments they used to live in.
Unfortunately, the site is currently only in Russian, which is a problem for some visitors. So last week I started translating some of the site’s identifiers and descriptions into English. Before you get too excited, my Russian-English translation skills are not the best, so I am using online translators and my own knowledge base about the area to get the job done. The translations will not be 100% accurate, but readers will be able to understand most of the descriptions.
The current plan is to get much of the content translated first, and then we will create an English-language interface. I have no idea when the English site will be available, but decided to let you know now and whet your appetite!
In the meantime, you can always indulge your curiosity by visiting the current Russian-language site. In case you have trouble finding your way around the site, here is a link to the Pripyat section.
Evgenie, a friend of mine who is a former Chernobyl liquidator, worked in the Exclusion Zone from May 18, 1986 - June 22, 1986. Like many liquidators, he lived in the Zone in a "tent city." As a member of the 25th Brigade, his camp was based near the village or Oranoe, just northeast of what is now known as the Dytyatky Checkpoint.
The short film below shows liquidation efforts in the Chernobyl Zone in June 1986. In this film you will see what his tent camp looked like.
Yevgen, another friend from Kyiv, visited the camp with Evgenie in April 2007. Yevgen has posted a photo essay of their trip on his website (beware, the text is in Russian).
The short film below shows liquidation efforts in the Chernobyl Zone in June 1986. In this film you will see what his tent camp looked like.
Yevgen, another friend from Kyiv, visited the camp with Evgenie in April 2007. Yevgen has posted a photo essay of their trip on his website (beware, the text is in Russian).
Information about the affects of the Chernobyl accident in Belarus is not easy to find, as compared to Ukraine. At Chernobyl.info, the official website of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, I have found links to some new documents about Chernobyl’s affect on Belaus (published at Chernobyl.info on January 28).
Included are maps of Cesium-137 and Strontium-90 contamination within Belarus as of 2004. Also of interest are two maps forecasting Belorussian Cs-137 levels in both 2016 and 2046. You can also read a PDF document summarizing an International conference held April 19-21, 2006 in Minsk, titled “Chernobyl 20 years after. Strategy for recovery and sustainable development of the affected regions.”
A summary of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation’s activities in the Chernobyl Zone can be found on their webiste - “The SDC Chernobyl programme in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia aims at relieving the people suffering from the Chernobyl consequences, developing of Chernobyl contaminated areas as well as increasing the national and international awareness on the problem.”
Included are maps of Cesium-137 and Strontium-90 contamination within Belarus as of 2004. Also of interest are two maps forecasting Belorussian Cs-137 levels in both 2016 and 2046. You can also read a PDF document summarizing an International conference held April 19-21, 2006 in Minsk, titled “Chernobyl 20 years after. Strategy for recovery and sustainable development of the affected regions.” A summary of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation’s activities in the Chernobyl Zone can be found on their webiste - “The SDC Chernobyl programme in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia aims at relieving the people suffering from the Chernobyl consequences, developing of Chernobyl contaminated areas as well as increasing the national and international awareness on the problem.”
