Current state of the Red Forest

   Thematic groups:

        Mutation of pines in the Red forest (photo)
        The territory of the dead unburied in the woods trenches
        View from the Red Forest at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
        Animals living in the Red forest
        The modern state of burial grounds in the Red Forest

   Mutation generative organs (morphosis) of pines in the Red forest (photo)

   One of the most unique places of the Chernobyl zone, where even today you can visually observe the effect of radiation on living organisms - it is the «Red forest». This area is located a short distance from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (1-2 kilometers to the west - see the map "Red Forest").
   The previous page describes the particular impact of large doses of radiation on the pine stands in 1986.
   Despite the fact that today doses significantly reduced power and exposure dose does not exceed 1 - 3 mR/h, part of young pine plantations receiving doses giving rise to mutations of generative organs. It is important to note that the main source of exposure in the Red Forest is radionuclides, which are a breeding substrate, biomass buried in the trenches in 1986. Radioactive substances entered the plant, along with nutrients through the root system, forming significant levels of dose internal radiation.
   The following photos show the existence of morphosis of the young growing up after the accident, young pine. Thus, one can observe a significant branching, which is driven suppression of apical growth points, leaving the side (sleeping) have formed a point of additional branches.
   In other photographs submitted to the plant, which suppressed (significantly braked) growth processes. Even after 15-20 years after planting, these plants grew in height only by one and a half - two meters.
   At some fragments of photos we see some branches with no needles, while some of it very long, or vice versa, shorter. It is also a generative mutations (morphosis) caused by radiation.

        

   The territory of the dead wood (unburied in the trenches)

   Here are photos of the status of the territory in which the dead wood has been buried in the trenches. Much of dead trees that you can find on the territory of Red Forest today are rests on the ground. The area is gradually wild young scrub birch and pine. Natural recovery of vegetation occurs.

        

        

        

        

   View of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant from the Red Forest

   Deactivated territory of the Red Forest is gradually being transformed into a natural biocenosis. Trenches with the disposal of radioactive materials are covered grassy and woody vegetation. Today Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is surrounded by young forest cenosis with birch-pine adolescents.

        

   Animals living in the Red forest

   Despite the high levels of ionizing radiation in the Red forest animals inhabit the same as in the neighboring, less contaminated sites zone. Availability site-specific rodents and birds that inhabit the Red forest compel attention of scientists from around the world. They examine the impacts on the body of animals to high levels of radiation. Scientists studying the changes in living beings caused by radiation at the organism and genetic levels.
   Research conducted scientific organizations such as: Slavutych International Radioecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Texas Technical University and the University of South Carolina.
   The subject of the research is extremely diverse. One of the objectives of the research in the Red forest was a dose limits for the development of living organisms at the ecosystem level. Also studied migration cesium and strontium characteristics of the soil, studied the effects of chronic exposure of high levels of exposure to birds inhabiting the Red forest.
   Slavutich laboratory conducted some interesting studies. For five years, scientists studied features of the genetic transfer caused by high doses of radiation in subsequent generations. In addition, the organization, in collaboration with the Technological University of Texas executed survey of wild animals living in the Red forest with automatic cameras. Several photographs of this work are presented below (photo of a wolf and a wild boar).

        

   Abandoned trenches designed to bury the dead wood, have become small ponds. In these waters live swamp tortoise (Emys orbicularis) and pond frogs. Perhaps they inhabit, and other living organism. The photo presented the inhabitants of «water» in the Red forest.

        

        

   Below are photos showing the existing studies on the effects of radiation on the birds. For this purpose, there have been established artificial nesting boxes. There is a photo of an ox-eye and its nesting box installed near the dead forest cemetery. Also includes photographs of the ox-eye and its nest, which is built in one of artificial breeding.

        

        

   Photos ox-eye (Parus major) and her chicks, made by scientists Slavutich laboratory during experiments in the Red forest. This type is the most common types of ecosystems in the Chernobyl zone.

        

     

   On the territory of the Red Forest live Przewalski horses (Equus przewalskii), as well as in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Perhaps through this territory passes their migration route. The photo (rather poor quality) presented the existence of Przewalski Horse in the Red forest.

        

   The modern form of burial in the Red forest

   There are photographs of contemporary forms of burial, which in 1986 was buried dead wood, as well as the radioactive soil and forest litter. In some photos indicate that tombs partially destroyed and one fragments buried trees stick out. In addition to burial can be observed and abandoned trenches, which were never used for the burial of the Red Forest.
   Much of the area around the burial grounds covered with young scrub birch.