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Chernoby­l Update: Current State and Ongoing Research Insights

483 Words / ~3½ pages sternsternsternstern_0.25stern_0.3 Author Lydia K. in Mar. 2011
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Chernobyl

 Chernobyl today

What about Chernobyl today and what happened exactly in the zone?   Being researched and what about the concrete sarcophagus of the power plant?                                                                                                                             What is the radiation in the zone and is there a resistant life?                           One thing is clear:                                                                                                   Chernobyl has recovered only a little bit, but there are still some striking features the world isn't know.

 

What is special about the area of Chernobyl?

Many people have a picture of horror in there minds when they think of Chernobyl:

An area which is highly contaminated with radiation and no one can live in it! But the appearances are deceptive, because Chernobyl looks today much different as it may be imagined. Despite of the huge accident, the local area around the power plant is almost free of radioactivity. On most roads in the restricted area you can travel without any fear of radiation and there are even some people who live and work in the Chernobyl area.

Many people have especially a wrong picture in mind in terms of the radiation. The radioactivity was measured with a Geiger counter about 300 meter removed of the reactor block four and it was only five times higher than here in Austria. So no health hazard!

 

Science meets military

Chernobyl is still of special interest for science and research.

Often scientists hold on in the zone because the area is hardly contaminated. It's a question of researchers from state schools and universities as well as private acting doctors and professors. Secondary to the science the military is also strongly represented. The predominantly Ukrainian forces are used by the government to secure the entrances by  the zone. At the official version access to the zone the "welcome immigrants" have to show an acceptance and they must undergo a brief inspection. These checks are essential because the Ukraine has the state support to protect visitors.

 

The radiation in Chernobyl - Today and tomorrow

Although there are less radioactive contaminated areas in the zone around Chernobyl but there are still highly contaminated parts. Often only few meters represent the death for people and animals. Exactly water (ponds, lakes etcetera) are still strongly contaminated, while the vegetation grows even 10meters away - and that will long remain so. While some radioactive substances have contaminated the surrounding area only weak and for a short time, Chernobyl remains from today until the distant future contaminated. The problem is the long half- life of some radioactive materials.

 

 

Tourism is booming - Chernobyl as a tourist attraction

Despite of the high risk and the constant radiation exposure, hundreds of people visit every year the region to get an idea of the extent of the catastrophe.

Especial appealing is the nuclear power plant itself, because you can walk there relatively freely and without risk. There are many tourism businesses which take year after year tours to the zone. The day trips usually star from Kiev, the organizer takes care for permission and protection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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