Tragedy and Mystery of Lake Chagan: The Most Radioactive Lake in the World

Lake Chagan is the outcome of a thermonuclear explosion that took place in 1965 at a nuclear test site in Semey, also referred to as "The Polygon" in Kazakhstan. It was part of a program to analyze the potential of creating and developing a peaceful motive of nuclear technology for things like making reservoirs and canals, drilling for oil, or moving enormous masses of earth.

(Photo : Getty Images)

Lake Chagan 

A device was installed in a deep hole 178 meters deep in the Chagan river bed, and when exploded, it produced a crater 400 meters wide and 100 meters deep, then a channel was made to let it fill up with water. The program was named "Nuclear Explosions For The National Economy".

It was an idea obtained from the USA who were carrying out their own tests for the same purposes and named their program "Operation Plowshare." Where the USA stopped testing after twenty-seven tests in 1977, after they realized the testing was not going to be beneficial, the Soviets kept testing up until 1989.

They conducted a sum of one hundred and fifty-six tests before they gave up. The water at Lake Chagan is polluted and incredibly radioactive at almost one hundred times more than permitted levels. Due to this, there are no fish, no birds, no wildlife, and an offensive odor usually emanates from the water.

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The Atomic Lake 

Swimming is prohibited for obvious reasons, and there is proof that the water is now unloading into the Irtysh River. There is a rim at the south of the lake, which holds back the water from another reservoir. When the lake was made, the Soviet Government was very happy with the outcomes and proud of Lake Chagan.

The person accountable for the entire Soviet nuclear weapons program - the Minister of the Medium Machine Building Ministry was filmed while swimming in the lake. Lake Chagan is turning into a place for tourists to visit and is referred to as the Atomic Lake, but tourists must put on protective clothing and masks before they could go and have a look at the view of the crater and the landscape surrounding the area.

Further up an uneven dirt track, there is a hill, which hides the concrete bunker control center smattered with pockmarks made by rocks from the blast.

(Photo : Getty Images)

Kazakhstan 

Kazakhstan is the ninth biggest country but was once a part of the Russian empire and declared independence in 1991 when the Soviet Union was discontinued.

It has abounding oil reserves and other beneficial minerals and is the world's largest landlocked country worldwide and is turning into a place of interest for tourists with its nature reserves, authentic culture, and activities, including bird-watching and outdoor activities such as skiing and trekking.

If you're searching for a unique travel experience and would like to view Lake Chagan, then prearrange your next adventure to Kazakhstan and enjoy an opportunity to find out something offbeat and uncommon. 

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