Almost forty years after the nuclear disaster of 1986, Chernobyl is still one of the most unusual places in the world.
Almost forty years after the nuclear disaster of 1986, Chernobyl remains one of the most unusual places in the world. It is an abandoned region, an active nuclear site, a wildlife habitat and a scientific research area. Forests grow through empty villages, animals move through abandoned streets and workers continue to manage radioactive material.
The disaster happened on the 26th of April 1986, when a safety test at Reactor 4 went wrong. The reactor exploded and released radioactive material across Ukraine and other parts of Europe. The nearby city of Pripyat, home to around 49,000 people, was evacuated the following day. A restricted area of about 30 kilometres around the plant became known as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
Radiation levels in the zone are heterogeneous. Some roads and buildings have relatively low levels, while certain areas remain highly contaminated. Radioactive material did not fall evenly after the explosion, so conditions can change greatly over a short distance.
Soil, rain, wind and vegetation all affected where the material settled. A visitor could stand in a place with a low reading and then move only a short distance towards a radioactive hotspot. This is why workers and authorised visitors must follow controlled routes.
The destroyed reactor is covered by a huge steel structure called the New Safe Confinement. It was built to reduce the risk of radioactive material escaping and to allow the remains of the reactor to be managed safely. However, the structure still needs regular monitoring and maintenance.
In February 2025, a drone damaged the confinement structure. Radiation levels did not rise abnormally, but the incident showed that the site remains vulnerable. The war in Ukraine has created new dangers, including military attacks, power cuts and damage to essential equipment.
Some radioactive materials from the original disaster have already broken down. However, caesium-137 and strontium-90 remain in the environment. They can enter soil, plants and animals and move through the food chain by bioaccumulation.
For example, plants may absorb radioactive substances from the ground. Animals then eat the plants, and predators eat those animals. Mushrooms, berries, fish and wild meat may contain radioactive material even if they look completely normal. People are therefore warned not to eat food collected in the zone.
Despite this contamination, wildlife has returned in large numbers. Wolves, deer, wild boar, foxes, beavers, elk and lynx all live there. Przewalski’s horses, a rare type of wild horse, were introduced in the 1990s and have successfully formed a growing population.
This recovery is partly the result of rewilding. After people left, farming, hunting, logging, traffic and construction almost disappeared. Fields became forests and animals gained access to large areas without major human disturbance.
This creates an important paradox. Radiation can harm living things, but many animal populations have still increased. For some species, the absence of humans may be more helpful than radiation is harmful. Anthropogenic pressures such as hunting, roads and habitat destruction can sometimes be more damaging than long-term radiation exposure.
However, this does not mean that the animals are unaffected. Individual animals may experience cell damage, health problems or reduced fertility. A population can grow while some animals still suffer negative effects.
Scientists have studied tree frogs living near contaminated areas. Some were found to have darker skin than frogs outside the zone. Researchers believe that the dark pigment melanin may have offered protection when radiation levels were much higher.
The dogs living near the power plant have also attracted attention. Many are descended from pets left behind after the evacuation. Researchers have found genetic differences between groups of dogs living near the reactor and those living farther away.
Some reports suggested that radiation had caused rapid evolution. However, later research found no clear proof that higher mutation rates were responsible. Isolation, inbreeding, food sources and natural selection may also explain the differences.
Before the war, Chernobyl became a popular tourist destination. Visitors travelled to Pripyat to see abandoned schools, apartments, hospitals and the famous Ferris wheel. Tourism increased after the television series Chernobyl made the disaster better known around the world.
Official tours followed fixed routes and visitors had to obey strict rules. They were told not to touch objects, sit on the ground or eat anything from the area. Radiation checks were carried out when they left.
Tourism also created ethical concerns. Chernobyl is the site of a human tragedy, not simply an exciting location for photographs. Some visitors were criticised for posing disrespectfully inside abandoned homes and public buildings.
The zone is not currently open for normal tourism. It is close to the border with Belarus and has experienced military occupation and attacks. Mines, damaged roads and unexploded weapons may now present a more immediate danger than radiation in some places.
Chernobyl is neither a dead wasteland nor a safe natural paradise. Wildlife has returned, but contamination remains. Tourism may return one day, but the area will continue to require careful control. Chernobyl is fascinating because destruction and recovery exist side by side, creating a landscape that is both dangerous and full of life.
Available levels: A1 · A2 · B1 · B2 · C1 · C2