Ruins Of Soviet Atomic Industry Quick Version

Day 1: Saryshagan, Kazakhstan

You arrive to Saryshagana railway station and we start immediately. The first point we will have in Ulken town. Formerly established to build atomic power plant in USSR, in post Soviet year it was abandoned. But about 600 people stayed there and made their life quite comfortable for life (bravo!!). We can have late breakfast in local canteen or if weather is good, at the beach at Balkhash lake. First hundreds meter from the coast are shallow and safe. Then we head to Mirniy town, where 2 uranium quarries were shut down in Y'1994. We can descend into one of them. Of course, we will follow all safety measures. You will be instructed about levels, doses, have a dosimeter and individual safety kit. In the same town you'll find several murals of Soviet epokh. The last point is Aksuek village with another uranium enterprise and statues and busts of Lenin, Kirov. To the honour of Aksuek inhabitants, they organize their life in quite effective way despite laking any employment. We will have a picnicky style lunch there and head to Saryshagan station, where can have hot meal and wait for the train. If we move fast enough, it is even possible to visit Priozersk town famous for the only terrestrial air defense test site in the world. The test site takes full day, but we still can do open air museum and excursion in the town, at least.