Chernobyl's colossal shield: 8 years of silent protection

The Napromieniowani.pl profile reminds us that the dome over the Chernobyl power plant remains the largest movable structure built by humans. Today, November 29, 2024, marks the eighth anniversary of placing this structure over the fourth power unit in Chernobyl.

Worth noting is that securing the power plant with the new sarcophagus was not a quick process. The structure was moved over two weeks – from November 13 to 29, 2016. This was mainly due to the construction's size. The sarcophagus stands approximately 354 feet tall and is about 541 feet long. The span of the shield's arch is also impressive, measuring around 886 feet.

The manufacturer of the sarcophagus, Novarka, ensured the construction's high durability. The structural elements were made of stainless steel, and inside there is a ventilation system that blows warm, dry air over parts susceptible to corrosion. Dehumidifiers inside the gigantic dome maintain air humidity at a level below 40 percent. The manufacturer claims that the dome can withstand a plane crash, an earthquake, and even tornadoes.

Although the sarcophagus over the Chernobyl power plant is designed to secure the remnants of the destroyed reactor for the next 100 years, there are still several hundred tons of radioactive corium and dozens of tons of uranium and plutonium under the rubble of the fourth reactor. Experts are shielding these remnants, but a solution has not been determined for how to dispose of what lies beneath the fourth power unit.

Let's recall that the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant occurred on the night of April 25-26, 1986. In the fourth power unit, a tragic explosion took place, resulting in the release of a large amount of radioactive materials into the atmosphere. The chain reaction of overheating in the reactor core led to a hydrogen explosion, destroying the reactor complex and causing a series of fires that were effectively extinguished only after two weeks.

A cloud of radioactive dust rose over Europe, causing contamination in many regions from Scandinavia to the Balkans. The consequences of this event were immediate and long-term.

The region surrounding the Chernobyl power plant underwent significant transformations for both humans and nature. Radiation levels in the exclusion zone reveal that some animals began to undergo adaptive evolution. Feral dogs and eastern tree frogs in the zone exhibit genetic changes, which may be a response to the high levels of radiation. Research conducted by scientists points to differences in the skin color of tree frogs, possibly due to protective mutations. Similarly, changes in the immune system of wolves have been observed that may increase their resistance to cancer.