Wonders of the Ex Soviet Union

[JimmyMac]

Just been reading over the last few pages of the "not a lot of people know that" thread and theres some pieces there that fascinate me. The details on the old Nuclear Lighthouses and such are intruiging and i'd love to know more about that kind of thing if people have any other good links

Personally I have always had a fascination with Chernobyl, pripyat and everthing surrounding it. One site that many will probably know if they google about chernobyl is one of a bike ride around the area and the many photos related to it

GHOST TOWN - KiddofSpeed - Chernobyl Pictures - Kidofspeed - Elena

its long but a really fascinating read

So anyone got any other good stories or links around the ex soviet union and such they would care to share with us?

 

[acid007]

I first come across this on plane journey through Uzbekistan a dozen or so years ago, i did not take it seriously and since long forgot about it. Anyway it turns out to be true.

It known as The Door To Hell, and has been burning perpetually since 1971.

This place in Uzbekistan is called by locals “The Door to Hell”. It is situated near the small town of Darvaz. The story of this place lasts already for 35 years. Once the geologists were drilling for gas. Then suddenly during the drilling they have found an underground cavern, it was so big that all the drilling site with all the equipment and camps got deep deep under the ground. None dared to go down there because the cavern was filled with gas. So they ignited it so that no poisonous gas could come out of the hole, and since then, it’s burning, already for 35 years without any pause. Nobody knows how many tons of excellent gas has been burned for all those years but it just seems to be infinite there.

YouTube - RTW Trip #12. Darvaza, Turkmenistan. Gas Crater

 

[rickinyorkshire]

GHOST TOWN - KiddofSpeed - Chernobyl Pictures - Kidofspeed - Elena

No disrespect, but that web site is highly annoying. The captions and pictures don't go together...just...annoying.

 

[JimmyMac]

fair enough, i enjoyed at least scanning over it

I had heard about that "door to hell" one but never really remembered to look into it properly, quite fascinating

 

[Mr Noble]

been on the ghost town sight before , you interested in the UVB 76 stuff aswell then?

also check out
www.englishrussia.com

http://www.wartourist.net/start.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Woodpecker

 

[JimmyMac]

yeah it was reading about some of that UVB 76 stuff in the other thread the prompted this one, will have a read over those links later cheers

 

[S Bibby]

Hi,
Where do you begin? There's a secret underground metro under Moscow and loads of command bunkers.
Moscow Metro 2 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There's apparently a secret base under Mount Yamantaw which functions something like NORAD and a continuity of government. Mount Yamantaw - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Many other military bases have been abandoned, not just in the former Soviet Union but other states ie. Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. Many of these are still classified, including the former Soviet 'Star Wars' and Anti-Ballistic Missile defence.

A space shuttle in Gorkiy Park, another two or three 'Buran' shuttles unaccounted for or partly complete. A few massive boomer Nuclear subs (Typhoon Class) and Aircraft Carriers lying around in various seas and oceans. A museum full of operational and prototype aircraft near Moscow (Monino), including the Tu-144 supersonic airliner. Ever heard of the Ekranoplan/WiG-effect craft? Might be a few of those in the Black Sea or Caspian, along with Flying Boats and other creations in Ramenskoe base.
Ground effect vehicle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They are rumoured to be testing an aircraft-mounted Laser system similar the US YAL-1 project in Zhukovsky (main USSR test base).
Beriev A-60 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As you can tell, I'm something of a Russian Aviation nut.

 

[Jamezinho]

Hi,There's apparently a secret base under Mount Yamantaw which functions something like NORAD and a continuity of government. Mount Yamantaw - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I was going to post about this place but you beat me to it. The 2012 conspiracy theorists believe this is where the Russian government and elite will hide themselves away when the apocalypse comes.

I'd say it was more like a Russian version of NORAD.

 

[S Bibby]

Hi,

I'd say it was more like a Russian version of NORAD.

Apparently so, but I think there are possibly facilities for the government and military. Fact is, it is situated in the Urals which is close enough for transport. Plus there have been some suggestions that if the USSR leadership had come under surprise attack, the retaliation would have come without their authority via the Perimeter system. A base like this might have been used to get them to safety before the bomb(s) dropped.

 

[signs]

Here's me on the roof of Georgia Airport..

Here's me and 2 of my workmates after we was taken by our driver into the hills (who didn't speak a word of English ) to eat a sheep he had slaughtered for us

you could here the Chechen fighting in the background.

Flew around most of the "new" States Georgia probably being the best

 

[John]

IIRC "Cooking in the danger zone" went to Chernobyl , against all advise the gut ate with the locals