I understand the desire to visit forbidden places, but the disaster zone around Chernobyl is literally a "bucket list" item, as in, you'll kick the bucket unpredictably sooner if you go....
I understand the desire to visit forbidden places, but the disaster zone around Chernobyl is literally a "bucket list" item, as in, you'll kick the bucket unpredictably sooner if you go.
Radioactive particles don't distribute uniformly in the environment - there's a reason for marked safe tourist paths. Without a Geiger counter, you'll never know if you just stepped in a hot puddle, inhaled dust, or consumed something which will eventually cook you from the inside out.
Even though it's been more than 30 years since the event, the risks are little changed.
There's an interesting paper on the evolution of the informal economy around the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. [It's heavily referenced and has many avenues of further study for those interested.]
The Ukrainian state essentially abandoned most of the people in the area, and they're living in near-survival conditions. Their economic lives are so precarious that they're evolving new tribal lore and mythos to let them live with the nuclear risks. Of course, disaster tourism is a potential way for them to supplement meager cash income, but caveat emptor.
I understand the desire to visit forbidden places, but the disaster zone around Chernobyl is literally a "bucket list" item, as in, you'll kick the bucket unpredictably sooner if you go.
Radioactive particles don't distribute uniformly in the environment - there's a reason for marked safe tourist paths. Without a Geiger counter, you'll never know if you just stepped in a hot puddle, inhaled dust, or consumed something which will eventually cook you from the inside out.
Even though it's been more than 30 years since the event, the risks are little changed.
Smugglers have sold dangerously radioactive salvage, wild harvest, hot wood, and even nuclear materials.
There's an interesting paper on the evolution of the informal economy around the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. [It's heavily referenced and has many avenues of further study for those interested.]
The Ukrainian state essentially abandoned most of the people in the area, and they're living in near-survival conditions. Their economic lives are so precarious that they're evolving new tribal lore and mythos to let them live with the nuclear risks. Of course, disaster tourism is a potential way for them to supplement meager cash income, but caveat emptor.