Is anyone else fascinated with the chernobyl disaster?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the fascination with the Chernobyl disaster, particularly focusing on the abandoned cities surrounding the nuclear plant, the potential for visiting these areas, and the associated risks of radiation. Participants explore various aspects of Chernobyl, including its history, the current state of the site, and personal interests in radiation and abandoned places.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a strong desire to visit Chernobyl, asking about the number of residents, tour costs, and the safety of the area.
  • Another participant questions whether the fascination stems from the site's abandonment, suggesting other abandoned locations may be equally interesting or dangerous.
  • Concerns are raised about the reactor being surrounded by a concrete structure, limiting access to the core and indicating high radiation risks.
  • Some participants share a general interest in radiation, with one joking about the possibility of encountering mutated wildlife.
  • There are suggestions to read articles or watch documentaries related to Chernobyl to gain a better understanding of the site and its history.
  • One participant notes that while the abandoned city is intriguing, gaining permission to enter may be complicated, and the risks associated with radiation should not be taken lightly.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of fascination and caution regarding Chernobyl. While some share a strong interest in visiting and exploring the area, others emphasize the dangers and risks associated with radiation and the reactor itself. There is no consensus on the safety or desirability of visiting the site.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various assumptions about the accessibility of Chernobyl and the risks involved, but these points remain unresolved and depend on individual perspectives and experiences.

nuclear-boy
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hi,

i only discovered yesterday that there are abandoned cities around the chernobyl nuclear plant,

and now I am so fascinated by it lol, and i want to visit it one day,
there is seriously nothing i would rather do in my life than go there, sad? maybe.

ive got a few questions -


how many people live there?
how much to the guided tours cost?
is there still parts of the reactor and the zone that are very radioactive and a severe health risk?

is it possible to go into the reactor core and actually find the fuel rods and other parts of the core?

is it easy to sneak into the zone, and to sneak into the reactor? lol

im only 13, so, in say 15 years, do you think it still be abandoned and still nice and radioactive? lol


thanks, alf.
 
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Does your fascination with it come from the fact that it's abandoned? Because there's lots of other abandoned places around the world. There's a place in Pennsylvania that is pretty much completely abandoned due to an underground fire. That's somewhere probably closer to you and probably just as dangerous.

There's some videos on youtube of people walking around Chernobyl.
 
I was under the impression the plant itself (or at least the reactor) was surrounded in a huge concrete structure called the sarcophagus and that you couldn't remain to close to it for too long.

Going to the core is out of the question.

You might want to read this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_disaster

Just to give you a basic understanding of what you could/couldn't do on a visit.

I have to agree though, there are far better abondoned places to visit (such as the town mentioned above - coal fires I believe like in Silent Hill).

I love the 'creepy factor' of places like this and would love to visist a few of them one day. Although Chernobyl isn't top of the list.
 
leroyjenkens said:
Does your fascination with it come from the fact that it's abandoned? Because there's lots of other abandoned places around the world. There's a place in Pennsylvania that is pretty much completely abandoned due to an underground fire. That's somewhere probably closer to you and probably just as dangerous.

There's some videos on youtube of people walking around Chernobyl.



yes, but also because i find radiation fascinating, and you might just discover somethin creepy like a rabbit with 1000 eyes lol just kidding. and it would be fun to go into the reactor.
 
nuclear-boy said:
yes, but also because i find radiation fascinating, and you might just discover somethin creepy like a rabbit with 1000 eyes lol just kidding. and it would be fun to go into the reactor.

You can't. I'm sure the area is still considered high risk and that you can only spend short periods there.

Why would you want to go into the reactor anyway?
 
Type in a ride through Chernobyl.
 
I would recommend reading the article about the rabbits at Chernobyl in this post.

Maybe you can also pick up a lesson or two, while in the process.
 
Last edited:
nuclear-boy said:
yes, but also because i find radiation fascinating, and you might just discover somethin creepy like a rabbit with 1000 eyes lol just kidding. and it would be fun to go into the reactor.

Most people find radiation fascinating because, to them, it's sort of mysterious. If you learn a lot about it, you probably won't find it as fascinating.
 
  • #10
The abandoned city itself is very fascinating, I think. The city is pretty much untouched (Except by looters) and it looks like an old soviet city. As far as I know, it's not that hard to gain permission to the city. But I am not so sure about the zone of alienation. But I doubt entrance to the Chernobyl Plant or anywhere close to it is open to the public, and you may not want to go there anyway. Radiation isn't that funny.
 
  • #11
There was a fantastic documentary on (I think) the Discovery Channel about Chernobyl, the disaster, and the aftermath.. Check Discovery's site for it -- you can probably purchase it on DVD.
 

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