Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site Industrial Usage
About this tour
Industrial use of nuclear energy
Artificial lake made by atomic energy
Long trench for new river made by atomic explosion
History of nuclear arms race and rivalry betwen USA and USSR
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Semey, Kazakhstan
Through 60’s to 80’s an idea of turning Siberia rivers to Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan and Central Asia was widely discussed in USSR. In technical sense creating long canals for new rivers was a part of preparation to this large scale project. In Y’1968 two tests have been conducted at Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. For both tests low capacity charges were used, 0.24 kt (roughly 54 times less than in Hiroshima). Charges were put at the depth of 31 meters that resulted in 70 meters wide and 20 meters deep craters. At first test 1 charge was used, its crater is round. At the second test three charges were about 40 meters from each other, that crater is 140 meters long, 40 meters wide and 16 meters deep.
What's included
Inclusions: pick-up and drop-off at Semey train station or airport, the car, guide service, dosimetrist work, protective gear, permission to visit the site, a gift - rare Soviet post stamp about nuclear industry or pacifist activity of USSR.
Meals, accomodation, beverages.
What to know
Due to location this tour can be comfortably combined with the rest of Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. If the river floods, the tour can be replaced by Balapan test site (area for underground tests), which is even more impressive.
Route & locations
Semey, Kazakhstan