Ghost towns: the fate of the closed cities in the USSR and today's Russia

Chelyabinsk-40, Tomsk-7, Krasnoyarsk-26, Salsk-7. What do these numbers assigned to the regional centers of the USSR? gated cities in the Soviet Union - a secret location, not marked on any map. As these cities have lived in the Soviet times, and what has changed for them now.

Ghost towns: the fate of the closed cities in the USSR and today's Russia

But in the USSR

Ghost towns: the fate of the closed cities in the USSR and today's Russia

Why are some cities in the Soviet Union had a unique status, easily explained: there are objects of state importance of energy, aerospace and military industries. To know of the existence of the Closed (Closed City) were the only ones who had access to classified information. Under the strictest secrecy it was going all - from scientific tests with the virus Ebola before the birth of the first Soviet nuclear bomb. It sounds scary, but in fact the life of the population of closed cities in the USSR could only envy.

Just as in a closed city to call it it was impossible - only if there is a single pass or travel orders, which are checked at the point of a check point. Permanent passes have a person prescribed in the closed city or village. The numbering of bus routes, buildings and institutions in the Closed conducted from the beginning and continued introduced in regional cities, which include the CATF. The population of cities with the guard patrol at the entrance, behind a barbed wire fence and wall, the height of which depended on the degree of secrecy of the city, was forced to conspire, attributing to the nearest regional center.

Dwell on their place of residence the Closed residents also could not - they gave a receipt of non-disclosure, and its violation may result in a liability, even criminal. Outside the city residents offered little to distort reality in communicating with others by using their own "story." For example, if a person lived in a secret Chelyabinsk-70 (now Snezhinsk), in answer to the question of the place of residence, he cast which contains the mystery number, and, one might say, almost did not lie. For patience and forbearance keepers of state secrets relied certain bonuses in the form of benefits and privileges. It sounds good for that time: scarce goods that are not available to other citizens of the country, a 20% premium to the salary, regardless of activity, a thriving social services, health and education. Raising Living Standards offset the inconvenience.

But in Russia

Ghost towns: the fate of the closed cities in the USSR and today's Russia

After the collapse of the USSR the fog cleared a little secret: the Closed list was declassified, and the list is approved by a special law in Russia. The city received a separate name (previously they were only numbered). Many of the Closed today open to the public, despite the special protection regime. You just need something to get an invitation from a local resident, who while still must be a relative of yours (which naturally have to prove).

Today on the territory of Russia are 23 closed-end of the city: 10 "nuclear" (Rosatom), 13 belong to the Ministry of Defense in charge of another 32 but with villages. Secret Russian cities are concentrated mainly in the Urals region, Chelyabinsk, Krasnoyarsk and Moscow region.

CATF combined population of more than a million people: almost every 100th citizen of the Russian Federation today resides in the closed city or village and can speak openly about it. State secret can only activity of industrial enterprises and military installations in an isolated area - it is better to keep silent inhabitants.

Zagorsk Zagorsk-6 and-7

Ghost towns: the fate of the closed cities in the USSR and today's Russia

It is well known Sergiev Posad near Moscow, which is probably associated with the pilgrimage than to science until 1991 was called Zagorsk and included several small towns closed. In Zagorsk-6 center located Virological Research Institute of Microbiology and in Zagorsk-7 Central Physical-Technical Institute of the USSR Ministry of Defense. In Zagorsk-6 produced biological weapons, and in the open since 2001 Zagorsk-7 - radioactive. It is in the Zagorsk-6 was created on the basis of weapons of variola virus, which was brought to the USSR tourists from India in 1959. Apart from this there developed a lethal weapon on the basis of the South American and South African viruses, and more - check out the famous fever virus Ebola. It is not surprising that the city is closed to this day. What is interesting to work on Zagorje enterprises can only people with the crystal biography - not only personal, but also all their relatives.

Now Zagorsk-6, which is called "six" of the people, more than 6,000 residents. The majority of former soldiers and their families, in fact cut off from the world, life is pretty hard times. They complain about their status "hostages" on deficit products and unstable cellular connection. Roads clean rarely, housing problems practically engaged. Travel part to decide what business to start up in the area, and what are not. The choice of food is fairly limited, and therefore the villagers overcome the ten-kilometer distance to the shops with a wide range of goods.

Homeland of the atomic bomb: Arzamas-16 (now - closed Sarov nuclear center)

Ghost towns: the fate of the closed cities in the USSR and today's Russia

In this town on the site of the village of Sarov in the Nizhny Novgorod region were the first development of the Soviet atomic bomb under the secret name of CB-11. Nuclear Center was one of the most isolated cities and turned to the local population in the nuclear jail: to mid-50s from the city could not even go out during the holidays, exception is made for business trips only. He was under serious protection: rows of barbed wire, control band, modern tracking tools, transport inspection.

Imprisonment compensated an average salary of 200 rubles, and the abundance of the commodity shelves: sausage and cheese, red and black caviar. Residents of the regional center is not even dream. Today, the first Soviet nuclear bomb can be seen at the Museum of nuclear weapons. Today the city has a population of nearly 90 thousand people. On the scientific achievements of the city resemble a museum, where you can see a copy of the equipment, and nuclear weapons. Sarov - a city of contrasts. Research Institutes adjoin with the famous shrine - Diveevskaya convent that founded Rev. Seraphim. Closeness was typical for these places long before the work of Soviet scientists under the monastery are situated entire underground city - the catacombs and corridors, where the monks have found peace and solitude.

Sverdlovsk-45 (now - Forest)

Ghost towns: the fate of the closed cities in the USSR and today's Russia

The city was located around the plant, which is engaged in uranium enrichment, which according to some sources at the foot of Shaitan Gulag prisoners worked. They say no tragic incidents is not complete: the construction of the city claimed the lives of dozens of people killed during blasting.

According to a surplus city inferior to Arzamas-16, but was famous for its comfort and livability, which envied the inhabitants of the surrounding towns. According to rumors, the secret city residents even been attacked on the border by envious neighbors. In 1960, it was near Sverdlovsk-45 was shot down US spy plane U-2, and its pilot Powers was captured.

Now the city is under the auspices of the Forest "Rosatom" and is also open to prying eyes. You can reach it by bus from Ekaterinburg, which goes to the nearby town of Tura.

Novouralsk (Sverdlovsk-44)

Ghost towns: the fate of the closed cities in the USSR and today's Russia

In the city of enterprise "Ural Electrochemical Plant" produce highly enriched uranium. The city is also famous for its natural wealth: Hanging rock stone and Mount Seven Brothers. It is obliged to name the mountain or Ermaku or persecuted Old Believers. According to legend, Ermak turned into stone idols seven sorcerers who prevented him to conquer Siberia. The second legend says that the Soviet era was declared the raid on the Old Believers, who were hiding in the forests of the Urals. Seven of them in an attempt to escape from persecution fled to the mountains, where stone them chained fear. However, to admire the legendary beauty, will have to overcome a lot of difficulties: to enter the city only through the woods near the village of Belorechka.

peace. "Chair City"

Ghost towns: the fate of the closed cities in the USSR and today's Russia

Military camp in the Arkhangelsk region was the only closed in 1966 due to the test cosmodrome Plesetsk. Residents well-appointed and comfortable for the life of the city was lucky - they could breathe freely and not feel imprisoned. The peace was not fenced in by barbed wire, and the verification of documents is carried out only on the travel road. For his discovery of the city and not paid, except for scarce goods resorted unexpected pickers and illegals.

Interestingly, the peace was called "Chair City", due to the fact that graduates of military academies sought faster start in this thriving place family and children to settle permanently.

Chelyabinsk-65 (now - Ozersk)

Ghost towns: the fate of the closed cities in the USSR and today's Russia

In spite of all the privileges of life in some closed cities was high risk because of the proximity of hazardous objects. In 1957, which is due to the enterprise for the production of radioisotopes, there was a large leak of radioactive waste, endanger the lives of 270,000 people secrecy in Chelyabinsk-65.

At the production association "Mayak", where plutonium for nuclear bombs, a charge for the first time in the USSR was created, it exploded one of the containers in which to store high-level waste. After the explosion rose plume of smoke and dust up to a kilometer. Dust shimmering orange-red light and settled on buildings and people.

Radiation accident in the Urals put before the science and practice a number of entirely new problems: it was necessary to develop measures for radiation protection of the population. this enterprise specialists were strict multi-stage selection, and in the case of the successful arrival at a secret facility in a few years could not even carry on a correspondence with his family, not to mention the meetings. Today in Ozersk live more than 85 thousand people. The city still contributes to the domestic industry: more than 750 companies operating in its territory.

Severomorsk

Ghost towns: the fate of the closed cities in the USSR and today's Russia

The city of Severomorsk, a former village Vaenga in the Murmansk region - a major Russian naval base, which is located on the shore of the Kola Bay in the Barents Sea. Construction of naval base began in the mid-30s, and the city became closed after the collapse of the USSR in 1996.

Especially like the fans here sailors and naval history: the giant sailor severomorets Alyosha in the main square, a monument to the torpedo boats TC-12, which during the Second World War, sank four enemy ship, the museum submarine K-21.

In winter, from early December until mid-January, in Severomorsk in the Arctic Circle, you can admire this polar night. However, you should be wary of the local climate: not so easy to adapt to the icy wind and high humidity.

Snezhinsk - the birthplace of the hydrogen bomb

Ghost towns: the fate of the closed cities in the USSR and today's Russia

On the territory of the youngest of the closed city of Snezhinsk in the Soviet Union is the Russian Nuclear Center - Institute of Technical Physics of the Zababakhin.

First visitor Nuclear Center in Snezhinsk in the rank of Minister of Foreign Affairs was the US Secretary of State Baker in 1992, and in 2000 it was here made his first trip as president, Vladimir Putin.

Snezhinsk was created the world's largest thermonuclear bomb, known as "gruel" or "Tsar Bomb". Tests of the Super Soviet held October 30, 1961. "Gruel" worked at an altitude of 4 km above the earth, the flash of the explosion was 1% of the "power" of the sun. The blast wave circled the globe three times. The charge of "King of Bombs", which devoted a separate chapter of the book of Guinness World Records, was 51, 5 megatons. For comparison: the largest American hydrogen bomb, in March 1954, erased from the Earth Island Bikini, had a capacity of "only" 25 megatons. Some believe that there is an underground city of Snezhinsk, or even underground metro. The most daring exercise diggerskie underground walk, and for those who like a more traditional vacation, located near the town of resort where you can ski on the slopes of the mountains Cherry, and in summer - to swim in the lake and sunbathe.