Chernobyl, Ukraine
Believe it or not, this nuclear disaster zone is quite a popular spot for tourists.
Whether they are photographers, paranormal seekers, or those simply drawn to the eeriness of it, this Ukrainian location attracts about 10,000 visitors a year.
That doesn’t mean it’s safe to visit!
Many will remember the disaster that occurred on April 26, 1986, and the aftermath that followed. During a late night safety test, when the safety systems were intentionally turned off, a series of events occurred that ignited a fire and plumes of nuclear fission products entered into the atmosphere. The radioactive material rained onto parts of the USSR and Europe.
Chernobyl is considered the most tragic nuclear power plant disaster in history. 31 individuals were directly killed, and nearly 400 more as a result of this horrible incident. Thirty years later, the landscape is still scarred by what took place.
Upon arrival, visitors are screened before entering the 19-mile Exclusion Zone—the area which contained the blast. They are told not to touch anything and to not even sit on the ground. They are then screened again upon departure for any radiation exposure.
In this case, you might want to keep your health and safety in mind and just vacation somewhere else.