Tours Of Chernobyl, Ukraine Reactor, Officially Begin (PHOTOS)
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When Chernobyl's reactor No. 4 exploded on April 26, 1986, huge amounts of radiation spread over northern Europe, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people and creating major health issues for those in the area. The "exclusion zone," a 30-mile radius space, was sealed off and visitors were prohibited.
All that is changing, though, as the Ukrainian government has officially opened tours to groups. A spokeswoman for the Government's Emergency Situation Ministry, Yulia Yurshova, told the Wall Street Journal, that tours of Chernobyl and the surroundings areas already welcome roughly 6,000 visitors a year, albeit illegally.
Yershova told the Associated Press in December that experts were developing tour routes that were medically safe and informative. "There are things to see there if one follows the official route and doesn't stray away from the group," she said. "Though it is a very sad story."
What do you think would you want to visit Chernobyl knowing the risks? Vote in our poll below and check out photos of tourists walking the plant, as well.
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First Posted: 02/24/11 12:50 PM ET Updated: 09/19/11 10:04 PM ET