The road to Lake Karachay, the most polluted place on Earth
Located in Russia, Lake Karachay is considered one of the most polluted bodies of water on Earth, with its waters capable of killing a human within 30 minutes. It has served as a dumping ground for radioactive waste and other hazardous materials from nearby nuclear facilities since the mid-20th century.
Where is Lake Karachay located?
The lake is situated to the north of Novogornyi, in the southwest Chelyabinsk region, in the eastern part of Russia, close to the border with Kazakhstan. The name Karachay means "black water" or "black creek" in several Northwestern Turkic languages.
Why is Lake Karachay so polluted?
It is a small lake used for dumping radioactive waste from the Mayak Plutonium Plant (Chelyabinsk-65), one of the Soviet Union's major nuclear weapons facilities between 1951 and 1953. Once the largest natural lake providing cooling water to the reactors, the lake is now completely filled and surrounded by concrete, serving as a near-surface permanent and dry nuclear waste storage facility. The entire area, including the neighboring city and plant, is off-limits, with the only legal access through a checkpoint.
How long is the road to Lake Karachay?
The road to the lake, also known as Karachai or Karachaj, is 8.7 km (5.40 miles) long, starting from Novogornyi. It is mostly paved with concrete parts.
Can I swim or touch the water of Lake Karachay?
Nestled in the southern Ural mountain range, Lake Karachay is so severely polluted that even a brief exposure near the lake or its shores can be lethal. The radioactivity levels are extremely high, leading to severe health issues, including radiation sickness and death. It is considered more polluted than Chernobyl, and due to the extreme danger, swimming or any form of human contact with the water is strictly prohibited. By the way, in Google Maps, on the description of the lake, it states ‘Swimming lake’. Obviously this assertation is highly inappropriate and getting close to the lake is highly irresponsible. Avoid at all costs to get close to the lake.
What happens if you swim in Lake Karachay?
Also known as Reservoir 9 or V-9 water reservoir, the lake is so polluted that spending 30 minutes there would result in a lethal dose of radiation (300 roentgen), more than enough to cause death. The lake has been affected by numerous accidents and disasters, resulting in the surrounding areas being highly contaminated with radioactive waste.
Pic&video: HotOddity