The Haunting Legacy of Chernobyl
The haunting ruins of Chernobyl, a site in Ukraine that was abandoned to the elements after the world’s worst nuclear disaster occurred there in 1986, is actively seeking recognition from UNESCO. This endeavor aims to secure a place on the organization’s World Heritage list, which would consequently lure more visitors and bring in funding to preserve the deteriorating buildings.
The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone includes the ghost town of Pripyat, once home to 50,000 residents. Currently, this area lacks any kind of official status yet has seen an influx of visitors since the release of the hit TV series Chernobyl in 2019. Nearly 125,000 tourists visited last year to explore the 30km Exclusion Zone around the former nuclear reactor complex, an area larger than Luxembourg. While radiation levels remain higher than normal, authorities assert that it could take as long as 24,000 years for people to safely inhabit the region. However, tour operators claim that short-term visits are safe, with bookings up by as much as 40% in 2019.
Preservation Efforts and Future Plans
A large protective dome was placed over the fourth nuclear reactor in 2016 to contain radioactive debris. Last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced plans for new walking trails and improved mobile phone reception for visitors, in addition to lifting restrictions on filming. The site will also introduce an electronic ticketing system to minimize corruption and unauthorized tours.
Change in Perception
“Chernobyl has been a negative part of Ukraine’s brand,” Zelensky stated in 2019. “The time has come to change this. We will create a green corridor for tourists. Chernobyl is a unique place on the planet where nature has reborn after a significant man-made disaster. We must showcase this site to the world: to scientists, ecologists, historians, and tourists.” According to AFP, the Ukrainian government is expected to propose specific locations within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone to UNESCO in March 2021, although a final decision might not come until 2023.
