Breaking News…

Nuclear Disaster in Chernobyl Ukraine

Event: Important Information: Chernobyl (Ukraine) Chernobyl is the name of a city situated in northern Ukraine. Chernobyl was largely abandoned following the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant located 9 miles away. Ukraine was part of Russia on the 26th April 1986 when the disaster occurred. April 26, 1986 Nuclear accident Estimates: up to 5,000 will die due to cancer from radiation 336,000 had to be resettled Most areas now considered safe

Nuclear Power Plant is… A building that generates electricity use nuclear energy to heat water which produces steam/electricity

Causes of Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster of 1986 One of the reactors exploded Poorly built nuclear plant – defective design Was operated with poorly trained workers Poor safety rules in place – Communist gov’t wasn’t careful

Effects of Nuclear Disaster Poisoning land and water - Fish were not safe to eat Drinking water was contaminated and unsafe for months Nuclear Fallout- radioactive particles poisoning the air and fell on Northern Europe. (Contaminated air reached to the Scandinavian Peninsula and the UK)

Effects of the Nuclear Disaster (cont.) People and animals contracted diseases and some died Health issues- high rates of cancer, birth defects, death Turned the nearby forests brown and killed the trees Evacuation

Chernobyl Before and After Nuclear Accident

Photos of the Effects of the Chernobyl Disaster

Whole cities had to be abandoned due to radiation…

Cherenobyl Now… within the 19 miles ()30Km Exclusion Zone that surrounds the Nuclear Power Plant. Prior to its evacuation Chernobyl was inhabited by 16,000 people but is now populated only by Zone administrative personnel, some of those involved in decommissioning the power plants and a number of residents who refused to leave their homes or subsequently returned.  

No permanent solution-still radiative today more than 29 years later! Chernobyl-Solutions No permanent solution-still radiative today more than 29 years later! Buried the reactor in concrete - cement containment sarcophagus - payments to victims-new homes, jobs, clothes furniture- everything had to be left behind Paid medical costs for those who were sick

Chernobyl Now… Today, over 1.6 million people live and seem to be thriving in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, yet the Chernobyl exclusion zone, a 30 square kilometer area surrounding the plant, remains relatively uninhabited.  The Ukrainian government has permitted entry into the surrounding areas of Chernobyl, but with strict conditions. To enter the 30km exclusion zone, you will need a day pass to enter- which can be obtained from several tour operators that have been established. Reactor was buried in concrete sarcophagus, but the radioactive material is still not safe)

Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster in Ukraine 29 years later: Still Dangerous and Empty!

Frame-Write in complete sentences So What? What is this thinking map about? So Why? Why is it important to know about the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster? Frame- Where did I get this information for this thinking map?