Chernobyl Cooling Pond and the Accident of 1986

Huge reservoir, which used to be the biggest artificial one in Ukraine, was built to cool down the water for four reactors of Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Chernobyl cooling pond’s construction was pretty simple. The water was pumped in from the river Prypiat. Apart from its direct purpose, it was used for fishing farm and a lot of animals, in particular birds, found their home there.

After the explosion, the smallest particles were dispersed to lake’s surface. Water which firefighters poured on the ruins of the fourth unit gathered in suppression pool under the reactor.
There was a danger: melted fuel could crack cement floor and make its way to the pool. If it had happen, another explosion would have been set in motion. There was a task to empty the suppression pool.
Divers were draining water into Chernobyl cooling pond. So, 5,000 m³ of water from the pool carried radioactive particles into the reservoir. In addition, after cleaning its banks, contaminated soil was placed in the reservoir as well.
In order to decontaminate it, the bottom had to be cleaned; however, no such work was done. Liquidators built additional dams to prevent contaminated water entering Prypiat River; so that the spreading of radioactive particles could be slowed down.
The reservoir continued being in active use for 14 years after the accident. In December 2000, third unit of the power plant was shut down and there was no more need to maintain such a big lake.
Chernobyl Cooling Pond and Nuclear Power Plant Today

When the workers stopped pumping water from the river in, the lake started draining.
Before the accident, depth of Chernobyl cooling pond went up to 20 meters, but now it is impossible to find such a deep spot there.
The highest points of the bottom dried up and became covered with greenery, including trees and bushes. Some parts are still with water, but the reservoir resembles a couple of puddles rather than a lake. On the other hand, it became perfect place for birds’ nesting.
Until 2008, scientific laboratory had its base there to study the fish and the effect of radiation on it. In 2014, another project aimed to clean up the surface of the lake from the most radioactive materials was created.
The visitors are able to see the remains of the reservoir when driving along Chernobyl power plant. Broader view is available in multiple day tours.
You can see Chernobyl Cooling Pond with your own eyes with our exclusive Chernobyl tours.
See nuclear missiles with the range of 11,000 km and the flight time to the United States of 24 minutes.
See missiles that could cover 200 000 square kilometers
See real soviet fighters
Chernobyl nuclear power plant tours have become a popular tourist destination due to the apocalyptic looks of the area and the atmosphere of silence.
- - Abandoned Zalissya village
- - Huge secret radar “Duga-1” and the Chernobyl–2 town
- - Almost fully buried under the ground village Kopachi and the still standing kindergarten
- - Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant covered by the new safe confinement – the Arch
- - The NPP cooling pond with giant catfish
- - The Red Forest
- - The fire station
- - The town of Pripyat
Pripyat has become extremely popular tourist destination, and many choose to book tours to Pripyat to see the town with their own eyes.
- - Abandoned Zalissya village
- - Huge secret radar “Duga-1” and the Chernobyl–2 town
- - Almost fully buried under the ground village Kopachi and the still standing kindergarten
- - Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant covered by the new safe confinement – the Arch
- - The NPP cooling pond with giant catfish
- - The Red Forest
- - The fire station
- - The town of Pripyat
We have created a special tour for visitors called “HBO Chernobyl” with the locations from the movie.
- - The fire station (the place from where the first firemen went to liquidate the fire)
- - The legendary Bridge of Death
- - The city of Pripyat, where almost all the places from the movie can be visited
- - Nuclear Power Plant
- - Listen to the true stories about the explosion
- - Visit left homes
- - Walk through the town and feel the atmosphere of Chernobyl itself
The one-day trip gives you the opportunity to immerse into the exact same area where the most dreadful disaster took place. The radiation background is still excessively high in some places, but we offer you a safe route through this dire Zone, together with necessary protection equipment.
- - Abandoned Zalissya village
- - Huge secret radar “Duga-1” and the Chernobyl–2 town
- - Almost fully buried under the ground village Kopachi and the still standing kindergarten
- - Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant covered by the new safe confinement – the Arch
- - The NPP cooling pond with giant catfish
- - The Red Forest
- - The fire station
- - The town of Pripyat
The two-day trip to the Chernobyl Zone opens for you the door to this unique place. In this short time, you will get not only the tour around Chernobyl nuclear power plant and Pripyat town, but also the exclusive experience to spend the night in an empty town. This is definitely the deepest dive into the history of the drastic disaster.
- - Abandoned Zalissya village
- - Huge secret radar “Duga-1” and the Chernobyl–2 town
- - Almost fully buried under the ground village Kopachi and the still standing kindergarten
- - Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant covered by the new safe confinement – the Arch
- - The NPP cooling pond with giant catfish
- - The Red Forest
- - The fire station
- - The town of Pripyat (exploring for 2 days)
- - The unfinished NPP
- - Graveyard of the vehicles and Yanov train station
- - Accommodation in a hotel in the town of Chernobyl
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