Belarus to Open Tower with View of Chernobyl's 'Sarcophagus'

A new observation tower overlooking the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is set to open this June in Belarus. The structure, rising over five meters high within the Polessky State Radioecological Reserve, will offer visitors a direct view of the station's massive 'Shelter' or 'Sarcophagus' containment structure covering the ruined fourth reactor.

Reserve director Alexey Tishkovets announced the project ahead of the 40th anniversary of the 1986 disaster. He stated the tower will feature a safe ascent and be fully equipped for visitor comfort. While a fire tower currently exists on the reserve, it is not accessible to the public.

"With good weather conditions, you can see this object from our territory," noted Alexey Kazakov, head of the reserve's information department. The new platform is intended to formalize and enhance that viewing experience.

Tishkovets linked the addition to a consistent strategy of infrastructure improvements aimed at boosting tourism. The reserve reported over 3,100 visitors in 2023, an increase of more than a thousand from the previous year. Demand for tours comes from both Belarusian residents and international travelers.

The Chernobyl catastrophe on April 26, 1986, remains the worst accident in the history of nuclear power. It spread radioactive contamination across parts of Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and wider Europe. The new tower provides a sobering vantage point on its enduring legacy.