The most radioactive place on earth. And this is not Chernobyl

The city of Pripyat, where April 26, 1986 occurredthe explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, has long been considered the most dangerous place on Earth. After the catastrophe, the urban air was filled with radioactive particles, which, when released into the human body, cause irreversible changes in the cells and cause cancer and other diseases. From the “Chernobyl” series, for example, people have learned how even two minutes of being on the roof of a power station can halve a person’s lifespan. However, there is another place in the world where death from radiation can catch up even faster.

This place is the area of ​​the so-calledMarshall Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean. On their territory, from 1946 to 1960, the US military conducted tests of nuclear weapons. In particular, about 67 nuclear tests were carried out on the islands under the names of Bikini and Eniwetok, which left behind radioactive particles that killed more than 800 local residents.

First atomic bomb

The most damage was caused to Bikini Island. At the beginning of July 1946, an atomic bomb similar to Fat Man, which was dropped on the Japanese island of Nagasaki, was detonated on its territory. The bomb was dropped on 73 obsolete warships, and after the explosion, many radioactive particles remained in the air that were dangerous to the health of local residents.

Nuclear tests on the island of Bikini in 1946

Despite this, in the 1970s, US authorities assuredsettled in the nearby islands of local residents, that Bikini is once again safe for health, and they can go back. This turned out to be untrue, because subsequently 840 local residents died of cancer caused by radiation. About 7,000 people sought to be recognized as victims of US military tests, but only 1,965 people were recognized as such, half of whom later died from various diseases.

The most dangerous place in the world

The island remains dangerous to health even now.- This has been proven by researchers at Columbia University. In their opinion, the concentration of radioactive substances in the Marshall Islands is currently much higher than in Chernobyl. In particular, particles of radioactive metals such as cesium, americium, and plutonium were found in the air, soil, and plants. The concentration of plutonium, by the way, on the island of Bikini was 1000 times higher than in Chernobyl.

This is interesting: “Chernobyl” is lying: how many people actually died in the accident?

Ultimately, the researchers decided thatBikini, Runite, Engebi, Naen and Enivetok islands are the most radioactive places on Earth. At the moment, almost no one lives on them - in 2011, only 9 people lived on Eniwetok. The rest of the Marshall Islands have a much larger population, and they annually receive $ 6 million from the USA for educational and health programs.

Map of marshall islands

Despite the potential danger of atomicpower plants, nuclear energy is considered one of the most environmentally friendly. Some famous personalities, such as Bill Gates, believe that it is much better than wind and solar energy. It is believed that only it can save the planet from global warming and its consequences.

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