13th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Resettlers

After the worst nuclear disaster in history at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986, over 200,000 people living within a 30km radius were evacuated to other cities, most never to return. Some, desperately unhappy with their new lives began to break back into the exclusion zone to resettle despite the risks. Although the exclusion zone is still in place and will remain so for many years, the government eventually legalized a handful, all over 70 years old. Ivan and his wife Maria now live happily with their cats amongst the radioactive hotspots, a few kilometres from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2013
Date Uploaded: 05.2015
Photo Location: Chernobyl, Ukraine
Camera: NIKON D600
Copyright: © Nick Moulds
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