npr:

skunkbear:

On April 26, 1986, a power surge caused an explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, Ukraine. A large quantity of radioactive material was released.

On May 2, 1986, the Soviet government established a “Zone of Alienation” or “Exclusion Zone” around Chernobyl – a thousand square miles of “radioactive wasteland.” All humans were evacuated. The town of Pripyat was completely abandoned.

But the animals didn’t leave. And a new study, published this month in Current Biology, suggests they are doing fine. “None of our three hypotheses postulating radiation damage to large mammal populations at Chernobyl were supported by the empirical evidence,” says Jim Beasley, one of the researchers.

In fact, some of the populations have grown. These photos (mostly taken by Valeriy Yurko) come from the Belarusian side of the Exclusion Zone, and area called the Polessye State Radioecological Reserve. Kingfisher, elk, boar, baby spotted eagles, wild ponies, moose, rabbits, and wolves all make their home in the park. In some ways, human presence is worse for wildlife than a nuclear disaster.

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Image credits:

• 1986 Chernobyl - ZUFAROV/AFP/Getty Images
  
• Wildlife photos - Valeriy Yurko/Polessye State Radioecological Reserve
  
• Ponies in winter - SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images
  

An interesting look at how wildlife has returned to a place humans have abandoned. -Emily

enrique262:

Today is the 29th anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster, the worst nuclear accident the world has ever seen.

Let us remember the work of the liquidators, people who sacrificed their health and even lives to clean up this disaster, without them only God knows what would have happened.

Some pics have descriptions, so be sure to check them out.

ultrafacts:

After the evacuation, nature has slowly crept in. Once an area of heavy industry and collectivized agriculture, the zone is now nearly indistinguishable from the surrounding countryside. The forest has reclaimed long-abandoned villages and farmland; roads and buildings are being swallowed up by thickets of trees and shrubs.

It is now a sanctuary for many animals such as bears, boars, wolves, deer, and cats.

Here’s a video about life in the area: [x]

(Fact Source) Follow Ultrafacts for more facts

This is the closest that you will ever get to see me in a photo. Ideally, my face is covered.

It makes me look a little dumpy but that is because it has some air in it.

This is me at Plan 9 Comics in Boone for their Halloween party.I was really too late to show up for the costume contest but they gave me 5th place anyway. I got a bag full of candy and some other stuff.

I didn’t get to stay too long but it was fun. Because of the mask no one recognized me and I kind of freaked everyone out by not talking. It was great. The real tragedy is that this is the only mask I can wear with my glasses. I had an actual Russian made gas mask but due to my bad eye sight and my HUGE head I could not wear it properly. One of the guys who comes to the shop was in the army and told me to be on the look out for wither a M24 gas mask or a M17 gas mask as they were made for people with eye issues.

Thanks to Jenny for snapping these for me!