Tourisme nucléaire - Nos sélections - CIP

4458
Synopsis-Tourisme Nucléaire-FR-ANG
4458
Synopsis-Tourisme Nucléaire-FR-ANG

4429
Biographie-Gerd-Ludwig-FR-ANG
© Gerd Ludwig
4429
Biographie-Gerd-Ludwig-FR-ANG
© Gerd Ludwig

2806
Tourisme nucléaire
Close to 5,000 participants from all over Ukraine attends a demonstration in Kiev, which marked the anniversary of the Chernobyl accident. A group of women known as Chernobyl Widows from Bela Tserkov' in the Kiev Region carry photographs of their deceased loved ones.

Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005
2806
Tourisme nucléaire
Close to 5,000 participants from all over Ukraine attends a demonstration in Kiev, which marked the anniversary of the Chernobyl accident. A group of women known as Chernobyl Widows from Bela Tserkov' in the Kiev Region carry photographs of their deceased loved ones.

Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005

2807
Tourisme nucléaire
In a midnight gathering at the Monument to the Firemen, shift workers in Chernobyl honor those killed by the explosion. Two plant workers died immediately in the blast; another 28 workers and firemen soon succumbed to radiation poisoning. Thousands more will eventually die of cancer and the social upheaval caused by mass relocation.

Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005
2807
Tourisme nucléaire
In a midnight gathering at the Monument to the Firemen, shift workers in Chernobyl honor those killed by the explosion. Two plant workers died immediately in the blast; another 28 workers and firemen soon succumbed to radiation poisoning. Thousands more will eventually die of cancer and the social upheaval caused by mass relocation.

Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005

2808
Tourisme nucléaire
On April 26, 1986, the nuclear accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine contaminated thousands of square miles, forcing 150.000 inhabitants within a 30km zone to hastily abandon their homes. Nineteen years later, the still empty school and kindergarten rooms in Prypyat- once the largest town in the zone with 49.000 inhabitants – bear witness to the sudden and tragic departure.
Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005
2808
Tourisme nucléaire
On April 26, 1986, the nuclear accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine contaminated thousands of square miles, forcing 150.000 inhabitants within a 30km zone to hastily abandon their homes. Nineteen years later, the still empty school and kindergarten rooms in Prypyat- once the largest town in the zone with 49.000 inhabitants – bear witness to the sudden and tragic departure.
Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005

2809
Tourisme nucléaire
The contaminated control room of Unit #4, where the engineers
caused the fatal meltdown that resulted in the world's largest
nuclear accident to date. A radiation worker is monitoring the area. Pictures of my guide Julia and me in one of the Unit #4 monitoring rooms.

Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005
2809
Tourisme nucléaire
The contaminated control room of Unit #4, where the engineers
caused the fatal meltdown that resulted in the world's largest
nuclear accident to date. A radiation worker is monitoring the area. Pictures of my guide Julia and me in one of the Unit #4 monitoring rooms.

Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005

2810
Tourisme nucléaire
Every person leaving theEvacuation Zone has to pass through an automated dosimeter control check at the Dityatky Ceck Point. All vehicles are manually checked by guards and/or Militia. The control standards are very lax; people in a hurry often successfully cheat and the gates are often malfunctioning.
Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005
2810
Tourisme nucléaire
Every person leaving theEvacuation Zone has to pass through an automated dosimeter control check at the Dityatky Ceck Point. All vehicles are manually checked by guards and/or Militia. The control standards are very lax; people in a hurry often successfully cheat and the gates are often malfunctioning.
Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005

2811
Tourisme nucléaire
Generally without means of transportation, none of the nearly 400 elderly living in the zone (formerly called illegal residents) have easy access to medical care. To ensure basic health care, a team of doctors from the Chernobyl hospital make their rounds to different villages, paying a visit to each of them about once every month. The team we accompanied consisted of health care worker, Ivan Doroshenko (phone: +38-04493-525-04), surgeon Ludmilla Shtalova (+38-4493-513-01), ophthalmologist Victor Dolzhkovoi
(+38-4493-521-90), general practitioner Lidya Usova (+38-4493-528-15) and nurse Ludmila Borisenko (+38-4493-524-04).

Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005
2811
Tourisme nucléaire
Generally without means of transportation, none of the nearly 400 elderly living in the zone (formerly called illegal residents) have easy access to medical care. To ensure basic health care, a team of doctors from the Chernobyl hospital make their rounds to different villages, paying a visit to each of them about once every month. The team we accompanied consisted of health care worker, Ivan Doroshenko (phone: +38-04493-525-04), surgeon Ludmilla Shtalova (+38-4493-513-01), ophthalmologist Victor Dolzhkovoi
(+38-4493-521-90), general practitioner Lidya Usova (+38-4493-528-15) and nurse Ludmila Borisenko (+38-4493-524-04).

Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005

2812
Tourisme nucléaire
For the last few years, elderly returness to Exclusion Zone have had their state pensions illegally delivered to their villages, enabling them to purchase goods that are brought into the zone by a couple of private vendors. Sergei and Svetlana Terentyev live outside the Exclusion Zone in Novye Ladyzhichi, and illegally goods purchased in Kiev out of their
car and trailer. They have scheduled visits each week covering three villages per day.

Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005
2812
Tourisme nucléaire
For the last few years, elderly returness to Exclusion Zone have had their state pensions illegally delivered to their villages, enabling them to purchase goods that are brought into the zone by a couple of private vendors. Sergei and Svetlana Terentyev live outside the Exclusion Zone in Novye Ladyzhichi, and illegally goods purchased in Kiev out of their
car and trailer. They have scheduled visits each week covering three villages per day.

Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005

2813
Tourisme nucléaire
'Grobki' is the Ukrainian name for Parents' Day, a holiday10 days after Easter and considered part of the Easter celebrations. Traditionally, people all over the Former Soviet Union flock to the graveyards to picnic and drink on or near the graves of their loved ones, honoring them by leaving Easter cakes and glasses of vodka on their markers and tombstones. This is the only day of the year when former residents are allowed in to the Exclusion to meet each other in large numbers. After the fall of communism, priests are more commonly seen attending and blessing individual graves for a donation.
Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005
2813
Tourisme nucléaire
'Grobki' is the Ukrainian name for Parents' Day, a holiday10 days after Easter and considered part of the Easter celebrations. Traditionally, people all over the Former Soviet Union flock to the graveyards to picnic and drink on or near the graves of their loved ones, honoring them by leaving Easter cakes and glasses of vodka on their markers and tombstones. This is the only day of the year when former residents are allowed in to the Exclusion to meet each other in large numbers. After the fall of communism, priests are more commonly seen attending and blessing individual graves for a donation.
Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005

2814
Tourisme nucléaire
Despite scientific dispute over the cause of physical malformations, many homes in Belarus receive support from Chernobyl aid programs funded by various international aid organizations around the world. Activist, Adi Roche, is an Irish woman who founded the organization, Chernobyl Children, and produced the 2004 Academy Award winning documentary on Chernobyl victims called "Chernobyl Heart”. Adi has made the care of Chernobyl victims the center of her life. Her organization gives major help to the Childrens’ Home in Vesnova, which cares for 150 abandoned and orphaned children with severe mental and physical disabilities. (Director Vasily Barbuchko, work: +375-2230-323-03 mob: +375-293-275908, home: +375-2230-22513. )
Some pictures show children with lesser handicaps harvesting fields and taking care of farm animals to produce food for the home.

Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005
2814
Tourisme nucléaire
Despite scientific dispute over the cause of physical malformations, many homes in Belarus receive support from Chernobyl aid programs funded by various international aid organizations around the world. Activist, Adi Roche, is an Irish woman who founded the organization, Chernobyl Children, and produced the 2004 Academy Award winning documentary on Chernobyl victims called "Chernobyl Heart”. Adi has made the care of Chernobyl victims the center of her life. Her organization gives major help to the Childrens’ Home in Vesnova, which cares for 150 abandoned and orphaned children with severe mental and physical disabilities. (Director Vasily Barbuchko, work: +375-2230-323-03 mob: +375-293-275908, home: +375-2230-22513. )
Some pictures show children with lesser handicaps harvesting fields and taking care of farm animals to produce food for the home.

Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005

2815
Tourisme nucléaire
Despite scientific dispute over the cause of physical malformations, many homes in Belarus receive support from Chernobyl aid programs funded by various international aid organizations around the world. Activist, Adi Roche, is an Irish woman who founded the organization, Chernobyl Children, and produced the 2004 Academy Award winning documentary on Chernobyl victims called "Chernobyl Heart”. Adi has made the care of Chernobyl victims the center of her life. Her organization gives major help to the Childrens’ Home in Vesnova, which cares for 150 abandoned and orphaned children with severe mental and physical disabilities. (Director Vasily Barbuchko, work: +375-2230-323-03 mob: +375-293-275908, home: +375-2230-22513. )
Some pictures show children with lesser handicaps harvesting fields and taking care of farm animals to produce food for the home.

Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005
2815
Tourisme nucléaire
Despite scientific dispute over the cause of physical malformations, many homes in Belarus receive support from Chernobyl aid programs funded by various international aid organizations around the world. Activist, Adi Roche, is an Irish woman who founded the organization, Chernobyl Children, and produced the 2004 Academy Award winning documentary on Chernobyl victims called "Chernobyl Heart”. Adi has made the care of Chernobyl victims the center of her life. Her organization gives major help to the Childrens’ Home in Vesnova, which cares for 150 abandoned and orphaned children with severe mental and physical disabilities. (Director Vasily Barbuchko, work: +375-2230-323-03 mob: +375-293-275908, home: +375-2230-22513. )
Some pictures show children with lesser handicaps harvesting fields and taking care of farm animals to produce food for the home.

Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005

2822
Tourisme nucléaire
We helped Ludmila Kirichenko, 49, her daughter Tatyana, 22 and their friend Ludmila Shapovalova, 55 to be allowed to privately visit their former hometown of Prypyat. It was only the second time that Ludmila Shapovalova came to Prypyat since she had to leave 19 years ago. Together they visited the graveyard, the Ivushka Kindergarten, where Ludmila S. used to work, the hospital where both women gave birth, both of their apartments and the Polissia Hotel where Ludmila K. used to serve in the restaurant. In between they stopped for a picnic in the main square.
Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005
2822
Tourisme nucléaire
We helped Ludmila Kirichenko, 49, her daughter Tatyana, 22 and their friend Ludmila Shapovalova, 55 to be allowed to privately visit their former hometown of Prypyat. It was only the second time that Ludmila Shapovalova came to Prypyat since she had to leave 19 years ago. Together they visited the graveyard, the Ivushka Kindergarten, where Ludmila S. used to work, the hospital where both women gave birth, both of their apartments and the Polissia Hotel where Ludmila K. used to serve in the restaurant. In between they stopped for a picnic in the main square.
Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005

2823
Tourisme nucléaire
As a result of north westerly blowing winds during the time of the accident, the highest levels of contamination outside of the fenced and securely guarded area of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant are on and around the Prypyat cementary. The radiation here averages 2.5 mR/h and reaches up to 5 mR/h in some hot spots. The forest along side the graveyard was also contaminated, and ultimately destroyed by its subsequent vulnerability to accidental fires. Photographs show photographer Gerd Ludwig and his assistant Maxim Kuznetsov holding their Geiger-Mueller counter.
Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005
2823
Tourisme nucléaire
As a result of north westerly blowing winds during the time of the accident, the highest levels of contamination outside of the fenced and securely guarded area of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant are on and around the Prypyat cementary. The radiation here averages 2.5 mR/h and reaches up to 5 mR/h in some hot spots. The forest along side the graveyard was also contaminated, and ultimately destroyed by its subsequent vulnerability to accidental fires. Photographs show photographer Gerd Ludwig and his assistant Maxim Kuznetsov holding their Geiger-Mueller counter.
Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005

2824
Tourisme nucléaire
Views of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant from the former Polissya Hotel in Prypyat.
Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005
2824
Tourisme nucléaire
Views of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant from the former Polissya Hotel in Prypyat.
Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005

2825
Tourisme nucléaire
'Grobki' is the Ukrainian name for Parents' Day, a holiday10 days after Easter and considered part of the Easter celebrations. Traditionally, people all over the Former Soviet Union flock to the graveyards to picnic and drink on or near the graves of their loved ones, honoring them by leaving Easter cakes and glasses of vodka on their markers and tombstones. This is the only day of the year when former residents are allowed in to the Exclusion to meet each other in large numbers. After the fall of communism, priests are more commonly seen attending and blessing individual graves for a donation.
Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005
2825
Tourisme nucléaire
'Grobki' is the Ukrainian name for Parents' Day, a holiday10 days after Easter and considered part of the Easter celebrations. Traditionally, people all over the Former Soviet Union flock to the graveyards to picnic and drink on or near the graves of their loved ones, honoring them by leaving Easter cakes and glasses of vodka on their markers and tombstones. This is the only day of the year when former residents are allowed in to the Exclusion to meet each other in large numbers. After the fall of communism, priests are more commonly seen attending and blessing individual graves for a donation.
Copyright © Gerd Ludwig 2005

2826
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

For many during their tour, the most arresting attraction is the ghost town of Pripyat less than 3km from the failed reactor. In the 1970’s it was constructed for the plant’s personnel. Once a beautiful town, its 50,000 inhabitants were evacuated 36 hours after the accident. Visitors get to wander through the empty city streets and get a chance to visit schools and kindergartens.

In the 25 years following the accident scavengers removed many items that were of use. And now tourism is leaving its own mark: Pripyat less and less bears witness to the hasty departure of its former residents. Instead, there are many signs of the visitors' need to simplify the message. The abandoned, lonely doll, neatly arranged, has become a standard tourist motif and an obvious indication that visitors were here.
© Gerd Ludwig 2010 All Rights Reserved
2826
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

For many during their tour, the most arresting attraction is the ghost town of Pripyat less than 3km from the failed reactor. In the 1970’s it was constructed for the plant’s personnel. Once a beautiful town, its 50,000 inhabitants were evacuated 36 hours after the accident. Visitors get to wander through the empty city streets and get a chance to visit schools and kindergartens.

In the 25 years following the accident scavengers removed many items that were of use. And now tourism is leaving its own mark: Pripyat less and less bears witness to the hasty departure of its former residents. Instead, there are many signs of the visitors' need to simplify the message. The abandoned, lonely doll, neatly arranged, has become a standard tourist motif and an obvious indication that visitors were here.
© Gerd Ludwig 2010 All Rights Reserved

2827
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

The most arresting attraction for many tourists is the ghost town of Pripyat less than 3km from the failed reactor. In the 1970’s it was constructed for the plant’s personnel. Once a beautiful town, its 50,000 inhabitants were evacuated 36 hours after the accident. Visitors get to wander through the debris-strewn corridors and empty classrooms of one of its biggest schools where hundreds of discarded gas masks litter the floor of the canteen.

One tourist brought his own gas mask, not to protect himself from the radiation - but simply to for photographs and giggles.

© Gerd Ludwig 2010 All Rights Reserved
2827
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

The most arresting attraction for many tourists is the ghost town of Pripyat less than 3km from the failed reactor. In the 1970’s it was constructed for the plant’s personnel. Once a beautiful town, its 50,000 inhabitants were evacuated 36 hours after the accident. Visitors get to wander through the debris-strewn corridors and empty classrooms of one of its biggest schools where hundreds of discarded gas masks litter the floor of the canteen.

One tourist brought his own gas mask, not to protect himself from the radiation - but simply to for photographs and giggles.

© Gerd Ludwig 2010 All Rights Reserved

2828
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

The most arresting attraction for many visitors is the ghost town of Pripyat less than 3km from the failed reactor. In the 1970’s it was constructed for the plant’s personnel. Once a beautiful town, its 50,000 inhabitants were evacuated 36 hours after the accident. But 25 years after the catastrophe nature starts rebounding. Grass pushes up through the cracks of dormant roads that once were glorious promenades, and even trees grow through broken windows and doors.

On April 26, 1986 this amusement park with bumper cars and a Ferris wheel in the city center was being readied for the annual May Day celebrations, when the nearby reactor blew up, contaminated thousands of square kilometers and forced more than a quarter of a million people to abandon their towns and villages. Rotting away for 25 years, it has become a symbol of the abandonment of the area it is now becoming an attraction for tourist groups.
©Gerd Ludwig
2828
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

The most arresting attraction for many visitors is the ghost town of Pripyat less than 3km from the failed reactor. In the 1970’s it was constructed for the plant’s personnel. Once a beautiful town, its 50,000 inhabitants were evacuated 36 hours after the accident. But 25 years after the catastrophe nature starts rebounding. Grass pushes up through the cracks of dormant roads that once were glorious promenades, and even trees grow through broken windows and doors.

On April 26, 1986 this amusement park with bumper cars and a Ferris wheel in the city center was being readied for the annual May Day celebrations, when the nearby reactor blew up, contaminated thousands of square kilometers and forced more than a quarter of a million people to abandon their towns and villages. Rotting away for 25 years, it has become a symbol of the abandonment of the area it is now becoming an attraction for tourist groups.
©Gerd Ludwig

2829
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

The most arresting attraction for many visitors is the ghost town of Pripyat less than 3km from the failed reactor. In the 1970’s it was constructed for the plant’s personnel. Once a beautiful town, its 50,000 inhabitants were evacuated 36 hours after the accident. But 25 years after the catastrophe nature starts rebounding.

An excited group of tourists is comparing and photographing their read-outs on their personal Geiger counters.
© Gerd Ludwig 2010 All Rights Reserved
2829
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

The most arresting attraction for many visitors is the ghost town of Pripyat less than 3km from the failed reactor. In the 1970’s it was constructed for the plant’s personnel. Once a beautiful town, its 50,000 inhabitants were evacuated 36 hours after the accident. But 25 years after the catastrophe nature starts rebounding.

An excited group of tourists is comparing and photographing their read-outs on their personal Geiger counters.
© Gerd Ludwig 2010 All Rights Reserved

2830
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

During the second half of their tour of the Exclusion Zone, their initial fear of exposing themselves to too much radiation is giving way to excitement, as tourists check themselves for contamination at the entrance gates to the cafeteria for the workers of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Pripyat.
© Gerd Ludwig 2010 All Rights Reserved
2830
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

During the second half of their tour of the Exclusion Zone, their initial fear of exposing themselves to too much radiation is giving way to excitement, as tourists check themselves for contamination at the entrance gates to the cafeteria for the workers of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Pripyat.
© Gerd Ludwig 2010 All Rights Reserved

2831
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

One of the added advantages of touring Chernobyl Evacuation Zone is the purchase of vodka in a local store, which is much cheaper in Ukraine than in neighboring countries. “After the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 people were advised to drink vodka to neutralize the radio-active toxic effects,” one tourist said when stocking up in a shop in Chernobyl after the tour of the Evacuation Zone. “It will be my remedy for the nuclear exposure I received today”.
© Gerd Ludwig 2010 All Rights Reserved
2831
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

One of the added advantages of touring Chernobyl Evacuation Zone is the purchase of vodka in a local store, which is much cheaper in Ukraine than in neighboring countries. “After the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 people were advised to drink vodka to neutralize the radio-active toxic effects,” one tourist said when stocking up in a shop in Chernobyl after the tour of the Evacuation Zone. “It will be my remedy for the nuclear exposure I received today”.
© Gerd Ludwig 2010 All Rights Reserved

2832
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

For many during their tour, the most arresting attraction is the ghost town of Pripyat less than 3km from the failed reactor. In the 1970’s it was constructed for the plant’s personnel. Once a beautiful town, its 50,000 inhabitants were evacuated 36 hours after the accident. Visitors get to wander through the debris-strewn corridors and empty classrooms of one of its biggest schools. Hundreds of discarded gas masks litter the floor of the canteen. In a kindergarten children’s cots are littered with shreds of mattresses and pillows and in a gymnasium floors rot and paint peels.

But, radiation be damned, in the 25 years following the accident scavengers have already removed many items that were of use, specifically scrap metal. And now tourism is leaving its own mark: Pripyat less and less bears witness to the hasty departure of its former residents. Instead, there are many signs of the visitors' need to simplify the message, - most noticeably the doll, neatly arranged next to a gas mask, has become the standard motif.
In the kindergarten "Golden Key - Zolotoy Kluchik" children's toys and gas masks create this strange still life. One can suspect that the mix was created intentionally.
© Gerd Ludwig 2010 All Rights Reserved
2832
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

For many during their tour, the most arresting attraction is the ghost town of Pripyat less than 3km from the failed reactor. In the 1970’s it was constructed for the plant’s personnel. Once a beautiful town, its 50,000 inhabitants were evacuated 36 hours after the accident. Visitors get to wander through the debris-strewn corridors and empty classrooms of one of its biggest schools. Hundreds of discarded gas masks litter the floor of the canteen. In a kindergarten children’s cots are littered with shreds of mattresses and pillows and in a gymnasium floors rot and paint peels.

But, radiation be damned, in the 25 years following the accident scavengers have already removed many items that were of use, specifically scrap metal. And now tourism is leaving its own mark: Pripyat less and less bears witness to the hasty departure of its former residents. Instead, there are many signs of the visitors' need to simplify the message, - most noticeably the doll, neatly arranged next to a gas mask, has become the standard motif.
In the kindergarten "Golden Key - Zolotoy Kluchik" children's toys and gas masks create this strange still life. One can suspect that the mix was created intentionally.
© Gerd Ludwig 2010 All Rights Reserved

2833
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

For many during their tour, the most arresting attraction is the ghost town of Pripyat less than 3km from the failed reactor. In the 1970’s it was constructed for the plant’s personnel. Once a beautiful town, its 50,000 inhabitants were evacuated 36 hours after the accident. Visitors get to wander through the debris-strewn corridors and empty classrooms of one of its biggest schools, where discarded gas masks litter the classrooms.

But, radiation be damned, in the 25 years following the accident scavengers have already removed many items that were of use, specifically scrap metal. Slightly off the main path for tourists is the former Pripyat Sports Complex, one of the few buildings not substantially altered by tourist presence.
© Gerd Ludwig 2010 All Rights Reserved
2833
Tourisme nucléaire
Until now, few groups have had the chance to visit Chernobyl and its contaminated surroundings. But on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the world worst nuclear accident to date, the Ukrainian government legalized such tours and is developing plans to attract close to one million visitors to the zone in 2012. The first tours are already underway.

For many during their tour, the most arresting attraction is the ghost town of Pripyat less than 3km from the failed reactor. In the 1970’s it was constructed for the plant’s personnel. Once a beautiful town, its 50,000 inhabitants were evacuated 36 hours after the accident. Visitors get to wander through the debris-strewn corridors and empty classrooms of one of its biggest schools, where discarded gas masks litter the classrooms.

But, radiation be damned, in the 25 years following the accident scavengers have already removed many items that were of use, specifically scrap metal. Slightly off the main path for tourists is the former Pripyat Sports Complex, one of the few buildings not substantially altered by tourist presence.
© Gerd Ludwig 2010 All Rights Reserved