Pripyat amusement park

The Pripyat amusement park is an abandoned amusement park located in Pripyat, Ukraine. It was to have its grand opening on 1 May 1986, in time for the May Day celebrations,[1][2] but these plans were cancelled on 26 April, when the Chernobyl disaster occurred a few kilometers away. Several sources report that the park was opened for a short time on 27 April before the announcement to evacuate the city was made.[3][4][5] These reports claim that the park was hurriedly opened to distract Pripyat residents from the unfolding disaster nearby. However, these claims remain largely unsubstantiated and unsupported. Pripyat residents have not been able to recall for sure if the park was opened following the disaster, but considering the lack of panic at the time of the disaster and subsequent evacuation, there would seem to be no need to distract people.[6] In any case, the park—and its ferris wheel in particular—have become a symbol of the Chernobyl disaster.[7]

Pripyat amusement park
The ferris wheel in August 2016
LocationPripyat, Ukraine
Coordinates51°24′29.28″N 30°3′25.65″E
Opened27 April 1986
Closed27 April 1986
Attractions
Total5
The bumper cars in 2016

Attractions

Constructed under the Soviet Union as a "Парк культуры и отдыха" (Park of Culture and Rest) typical of many large cities in the then Soviet Union, the amusement park's attractions were manufactured by the Yeysk-based firm "Аттракцион" (Attraction), who were responsible for the construction of many of the amusement parks which remain to be seen around the former Soviet Union today in various states of repair.

Located north-west to the Palace of Culture in the center of Pripyat, the park had five attractions:

The successor to the original company is still manufacturing the Ferris wheel, paratrooper and bumper cars to largely unaltered designs as of 2017.[8]

Radiation
The swing boats in 2016

Radiation levels around the park vary. The liquidators washed radiation into the soil after the helicopters carrying radioactive materials used the grounds as a landing strip, so concreted areas are less radioactive. However, areas where moss has built up can emit up to 25,000 µSv/h, among the highest level of radiation in the whole of Pripyat.[9]

Films, games, media and literature
The paratrooper in 2016

The park plays significant roles in the video games S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Chernobylite, and the film Chernobyl Diaries.

The park plays significant roles too in Markiyan Kamysh's novel about illegal Chernobyl trips, A Stroll to the Zone.

The ferris wheel made news in September 2017 when Polish tourists turned it mechanically for the first time since 1986, later returning it to its original position.[10]

The park appeared in Suede's music video clip, "Life Is Golden".

In the horror novel series/show The Strain, Chernobyl NPP was the birthplace of an ancient vampire and the nuclear accident was a test by another ancient to destroy his ground.

References
  1. Hjelmgaard, Kim (17 April 2016). "Pillaged and peeling, radiation-ravaged Pripyat welcomes 'extreme' tourists". USA Today. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  2. Gais, Hannah; Steinberg, Eugene (26 April 2016). "Chernobyl in Spring". Pacific Standard. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  3. Robert J. Ursano; Ann E. Norwood; Carol S. Fullerton (17 June 2004). Bioterrorism with CD-ROM: Psychological and Public Health Interventions. Cambridge University Press. p. 175.
  4. The International Chernobyl Project: an overview : assessment of radiological consequences and evaluation of protective measures. 1991. p. 49. ISBN 9789201290915. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  5. "Chernobyl disaster zone top pick for 'extreme tourists' 30 years on". Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  6. "Dissecting the Ferris wheel". 11 November 2019.
  7. Fox, Michael H. (2014). Why We Need Nuclear Power: The Environmental Case. OUP USA. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-19-934457-4.
  8. "Аттракцион - Инвест: аттракционы". Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  9. Article on Chernobyl by Graham Gilmore. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  10. "В покинутій Прип'яті біля Чорнобиля запустили колесо огляду". TCH. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
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51°24′29.28″N 30°3′25.65″E

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