Chernobyl visit - February 2008 Reactors of the Chernobyl atomic plant as seen from the top of the 16 story residential apartment building facing the central square of Pripyat.

Chernobyl visit - February 2008 Leaving Chernobyl, a quick visit to the monument built by firemen to honor the memory of their fallen colleagues who died protecting the world.

Chernobyl visit - February 2008 The memorial to the accident, built in 2006 on the 20th anniversary of the sarcophagus construction, approximately 300 meters from the site of the accident, reactor #4. The concrete sarcophagus can be seen, with steel reinforcements to the roof added later, which is under the risk of collapse. A new sarcophagus will be built in the next two years. Reactor #3 only started operations two months AFTER the accident. A six meter thick concrete wall was built between the reactors to allow personnel to work there. In this area, only pictures from the memorial location are allowed, and only towards the reactor.

Chernobyl visit - February 2008 300m away from Reactor #4, plaque in the memorial built in 2006, same text as the previous photo, in English.

Chernobyl visit - February 2008 Measuring radiation approximately 300 meters from the site of the accident, reactor #4. The concrete sarcophagus can be seen, with steel reinforcements to the roof added later, which is under the risk of collapse. A new sarcophagus will be built in the next two years. Reactor #3 only started operations two months AFTER the accident. A six meter thick concrete wall was built between the reactors to allow personnel to work there. In this area, only pictures from the memorial location are allowed, and only towards the reactor.

Chernobyl visit - February 2008 300m away from Reactor #4, detail of the concrete sarcophagus and the structure holding the roof until the new sarcophagus is built.

Chernobyl visit - February 2008 Just by moving the counter a few meters, radiation as gone up to around twelve times normal background. Unfinished reactors five and six can be seen in the background. From this point on, we weren't allowed to take photos until we reached the site of reactor 4.

Chernobyl visit - February 2008 Our official guide, Denis, measuring the radioactivity of the soil on the amusement park in central Pripyat, showing a level approximately 166 times the normal background radiation, the equivalent of 19.91 µSieverts.

Chernobyl visit - February 2008 Stenciled figure by the elevators made by a German/Belarusian group illegally in 2005 with the alleged help of one of the official guides, in the 16 story residential apartment building facing the central square of Pripyat.

Chernobyl visit - February 2008 Child's pedal toy car in one of the rooms of the creche/kindergarten in the center of Pripyat.