Visit Ussr Air Defense Test Site In Priozersk - 2 Days
About this tour
Zenith cannons
Radar stations
Air defense
Interceptors
Fighter airplanes
Star Wars
Baikonur
Beautiful Balkhash lake
Don 2
Dariyal
Taman base
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Priozersk
The brief: Arrival to Priozerk, accomodation, travel across former test site and visit abandoned radar station. History of air defense in post-war USSR, picnick at a radar station, return to Priozersk, late lunch. Content: Military aerodrome was first built in Priozersk in Y'1956 to develop and test air defense means. Back then it was fighter planes and zenith artillery. Later it all evolved in anti-missile defense. Remnants of anti-missile means is what we are going to visit. The area of test site was 5 times Austria, many advanced technologies had been tested here during Cold War. After USSR collapse all of this equipment was literally abandoned and consigne to oblivion. All buildings, cables, infrastructure were literally, robbed, destroyed and looted. With growing international tension, the test site revived. Now it has almost 6 times smaller area but still is bigger than many european countries. In modern times test missiles are launched from North West of Russia and should reach Far East. They are fullyh equipped with anti-radar systems, only miss real warhead. These missiles should be detected, monitored and hit from this place. Of course, we can't come in these radar stations, but will pass by them close enough (100 to 1000 meters). Radars are huge, like 30-level buildings, very good for photographing even from such distance.
Day 2: Priozersk
Brief: The city in Priozersk itself. Walk along the shoreline of Balkhash lake, a lot of photographing, history of the city in the context of post-war defense policy, fishers' haven, the monument to military, who died at the duty, open-air musum of air defense, officers' club. Lunch. Visiting abandoned concrete factory. Free time, departure. Content: In the town we will see models of anti-missile, airplanes and zenith artillery. Coastline of Balkhash is also enjoyable. Very good beach is situated in few kilometers (in the summer, of course! In the winter we will skip it). Generally, Balkhash itself is very interesting. One half of it is fresh water, another half is salty. And its two halves do not mix!! Another wonder to visit is Aghybay mausoleum (this is optional, takes 2-3 days offroad). Aghybay was one of medieval kazakh saints. Near his grave there is a meteorith stone, which is believed to heal spinal diseases. Many people climb up this meteorith (15-20 meters high) and slide down its mirror surface. Travel there is hard and long, almost 250 km. off-road one way. After overnight in a village next to it, the next day is spent again for transfer. On the way several other stations may be observed. Two days' content can be compressed into a single day, but it takes harder job both for a traveller and drivers with guides.
What's included
What to know
Wind-proof coat at any season, long trousers, long-sleeve shirt, a hat, closed shoes, good interest. This tour can be comfortably combined with visiting ghost towns, abandoned uranium quarries, even descending into one of those, Soviet murals and statues.
Route & locations
Priozersk