A
name that almost needs
no introduction. Its been
the featured setting in
more than one famous vi-
deo game. The nuclear power plant
failure here in the 1980s added impe-
tus to a green movement against nu-
clear energy all over Europe that con-
tinues to this day. And what was once
a thriving city by Ukrainian standards,
is now literally a ghost town. So dark
tourists coming here must be sadists
eager to see what a city’s downfall
looks like right? Not quite.
For starters, the ecosystem of the re-
gion has been altered in ways scien-
tists are still trying to fully understand.
What has been deemed an exclusion
zone to prevent people from expo-
sing themselves to dangerous levels of
radiation, functions as well as any na-
tional park would. Animals are left to
their own devices and many thrive in
this dystopia. Deer, boars, birdlife,
rodents, and even some elk and bears
are known to reside here. Why go to
any run of the mill national park
when you can go to this one knowing
there will be nobody else there to
bother you or the wildlife?
Some of the visitors here are also
abandoned building enthusiasts.
These people seek out derelict facto-
ries, warehouses, power plants etc.
and explore them as a hobby. Cher-
nobyl is the holy place for abandoned
explorers. The old Ferris Wheel in
the city centre is an iconic symbol of
the people who once lived here and a
favourite climbing spot. Another as-
pect that may attract dark tours is
simply the fact that it is technically
forbidden to enter.
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