Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is an area in Ukraine surrounding the site of the Chernobyl disaster, the worst nuclear power accident in history. This disaster occurred in 1986 due to a flawed reactor design and operator errors, releasing significant amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere.1

Initially, a circular zone with an 18.6-mile (30 km) radius was established, covering approximately 1,017 square miles (2,634 square km). This zone was later expanded to about 1,600 square miles (4,143 square km) to encompass additional heavily contaminated areas. While no one permanently resides in the zone, scientists and others can obtain permits for limited entry. Despite the radiation, some wildlife populations have thrived in the absence of human activity, though genetic damage and reproductive abnormalities have been observed in certain species.123