Anomalies of Chernobyl: consequences of the terrible catastrophe at the nuclear power plant

On the night of 25 to 26 April 1986 , there was a terrible man-made disaster in the history of mankind - the explosion of a nuclear power plant, comparable in scale to 20 explosions on Hiroshima in 1945. On the first day, the dose of radiation was more than 400 roentgens - this level of radiation is considered fatal. A few days later, the radiation dose exceeded 600,000 times the maximum permissible value.

To ensure that irradiation does not affect human health, this level should not exceed 2 X-rays per year. The level of radioactivity simply shocked the whole world. In the article we will talk about the facts of the Chernobyl anomaly.

How did this happen?

In the course of the experiment, the emergency safety systems were cut off with energy savings. For unknown reasons there was an explosion of the 4th power unit: a powerful stream of radiation soared into the sky. The first arriving firefighters began to fight with the flame, which for a long time did not succumb to extinguishment. The fighters with fire were not dressed in special anti-radiation suits. All of them received lethal doses of radiation and died from radiation in the next 24 hours. It was thanks to these people that it was possible to prevent a second explosion, which would simply erase all the European countries.

After 30 hours, a hasty evacuation of the inhabitants of Chernobyl and the city of Pripyat, which is 3 kilometers from the Chernobyl nuclear power station, began. Over 145,000 residents left the exclusion zone during the first week. This is how the territory adjoining the nuclear power plant began to be called.

The next few days after the disaster, radioactive clouds and dust reached neighboring states: Belarus, Russia, Sweden and the Baltic countries.

Tourism to the natural anomalies of Chernobyl

The Ukrainian authorities opened access for tourists to the city of Pripyat, which for many years was guarded by the military, it was impossible to get into it without special admission. Tourists dubbed it a ghost town, as deserted streets, abandoned houses and infrastructure remained the same as on the day of evacuation. Getting into any apartment or building of a deserted city, you feel involuntary alarm: everywhere there are traces of hurried fees and dilapidated furniture.

Tourists are attracted by the anomaly of Chernobyl in the natural and animal world, about which there are a variety of rumors. But there are also confirmed facts.

Consequences of an accident in the ecosystem

Many who have visited the exclusion zone say that they saw mutated animals with their own eyes. In soil, water, air - everywhere the level of radiation exceeds a safe value even 30 years after the accident.

The water level in the Pripyat River is constantly decreasing. To date, it is only 20 centimeters. This is due to the fact that in this area there is almost no rain, and in winter there is no snow.

Pine forest, which first took the brunt of a catastrophe, now looks burnt. Partially restored color of brown-red color served as a source for a new name. Today it is called the Red Forest.

In the 1990s, the roe deer was inspected, during which it was found out that the level of cesium in their organs was exceeded by 2000 times. At present living generation of animals this figure was reduced to 10-fold value exceeding the norm. Almost all the animals at the moment are not very different from the brethren in other places.

But the anomalies of Chernobyl can be found among fish: they differ in unusual appearance and weight, reaching 80 kilograms. There are many albinos in the animal world, swallows have an unusual color, there were black cranes, which are quite rare in its population. All this indicates a change in the genotype of animals associated with radiation. The whole world talked about the anomalies of Chernobyl. Photos of the terrible consequences of the accident will be presented later.

The independent expert Vyacheslav Konovalov managed to meet during the Chernobyl expedition an eight-legged colt, a two-headed pig and animals with asymmetrical body proportions. Scientists have calculated: it is necessary that 8 centuries pass before the ecosystem completely gets rid of radiation.

Inhabitation of Red Book Animals in the Exclusion Zone

Along with the anomalies of Chernobyl and Pripyat, there are also positive moments in the fauna. Due to the fact that there is almost no human activity in the area, wild animals began to return to these places. Losi, deer, wild pigs, lynxes, brown bears, roe deer and many other animals began to meet more often, as it was 100 years ago. There are also many Red Book species in this zone: the white-tailed eagle, the black stork, the otter, the badger and others.

Vegetation has grown significantly, there is no technogenic factor. Perennial garden and cereal plants are food for animals. In addition, animals freely move throughout the protected area, including spending the night in abandoned houses and farms.

It is important for tourists to remember that being in the exclusion zone is an extreme journey associated with a health risk: wild animals and radiation levels are dangerous.

Risk to human health

After the accident at the nuclear power station, the Chernobyl anomalies were reflected in the babies born. Fifty thousand children were born, born with deviations and mutations.

To date, more than 2,500,000 Ukrainians have health problems due to anthropogenic catastrophe at nuclear power plants.

In 1987, about 1,200 residents returned to the city, currently there are about 300 residents living in the farm: they grow vegetables and keep livestock. These people live in seclusion, do not leave the territory of their home and do not release animals.

Some scientists are of the opinion that living on the outskirts of cities near the Chernobyl NPP is not dangerous. But the restoration of infrastructure in the central part, from the economic point of view, is not advisable. For this reason, Chernobyl and Pripyat will remain unsuitable for human life for many centuries.

The anomalies of Chernobyl are the consequence of the most terrible catastrophe of mankind. This is a proven fact, with which it makes no sense to argue. All the living things that were exposed to radiation had serious consequences: from mutation to death. But as the level of radiation decreases every year, its influence on the animal and plant world is reduced. And so everything is gradually coming back to normal. Only it is a pity that much time is required for this.