Chernobyl 2

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There is even more to see

within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

possibly even more exotic than Reactor No. 4 and Pripyat.

Unexpectedly, Igor took us to Chernobyl 2

the last of three

huge (humongous, gigantic, massive)

Soviet radar receiver antennas –

the one that looked for United States’ missile attacks

during the Cold War.

On Soviet maps it was marked as a children’s summer camp



Driving along the narrow road

Igor said that there was a Jurassic Park fence ahead.

Through the pine forest we could see it

a vertical mesh of metal and wires

150 meters tall

stretching 500 meters wide

it was impossible to fathom its size



We drove to a check point and parked

walking up a rutted dirt road

approaching, it was difficult

to put the size of the antenna into perspective

standing beneath, it was impossible to see both ends



Two of the receivers were in Ukraine.

They spied on the United States and western Europe

The third was in eastern Russian

to spy on Japan and China

In the 70s and 80s

the transmitter for all three receivers,

also located in Ukraine

bounced a signal off the ionosphere

trying to detect incoming

intercontinental ballistic missiles



Chernobyl 2 has only survived because it is within

the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

(The others were scrapped for their metal value)



For more check out this article:



http://www.newsweek.com/hunt-russian-woodpecker-246670

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Photos

Igor and Chernobyl 2
Reaching above the trees

A very cold day.
I think I hear a woodpecker.

Where does it end?
150 meters tall and 500 meters wide