Today’s episode covers a natural area in Russia that experienced one of the worst nuclear disasters in history that you have never heard of. From the planning stage, the incident, and the fallout – learn about the most contaminated lake in the world and its impact on the surrounding area and the people that continue to live there to this day. This is the story of Lake Karachay.
References:
U of U Health Authors & Marketing and Communication. (2018, February 20). Meet one of the only Americans still allowed to visit sensitive Russian sites. Radiology | U of U School of Medicine. https://medicine.utah.edu/radiology/news/2018/02/meet-one-of-only-americans-still-allowed-visit-sensitive-russian-sites
Lewis, R. (2025, January 11). Kyshtym disaster | Causes, Concealment, Revelation, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Kyshtym-disaster
Wikipedia contributors. (2024g, October 30). Lake Karachay. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Karachay
Portillo, G. (2022, August 18). Lake Karachai. Meteorología En Red. https://en.meteorologiaenred.com/lake-karachai.html
Wesolowsky, T. (2017, December 16). The Russian villagers living in the shadow of a nuclear tragedy. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-mayak-villagers-living-in-shadow-nuclear-tragedy/28921944.html
Digges, C. (2018, June 14). The worst nuclear disaster you’ve never heard of celebrates its 60th birthday. Bellona.org. https://bellona.org/news/nuclear-issues/2017-10-the-worst-nuclear-disaster-youve-never-heard-of-celebrates-its-60th-birthday
Wikipedia contributors. (2024k, December 7). Techa. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Techa
Wikipedia contributors. (2025, January 22). Kyshtym disaster. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyshtym_disaster#/media/File:Map_of_the_East_Urals_Radioactive_Trace.png
Wikipedia contributors. (2024h, October 30). Lake Karachay. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Karachay#/media/File:Satellite_image_map_of_Mayak.jpg
Coast Files Podcast 
