Environment of Mangystau Province, Kazakhstan

In the desert, large uranium mine No. 4 fascinates those who turn from the main road. It was one of the main uranium mines during the Soviet era and the uranium yielded here served the needs of the whole huge soviet block. The mine stopped operating. After the fall of the USSR the whole area stays abandoned and is not equipped by warning sings, not speaking about a fence. Huge tailings piles surround the mine. No machinery can be observed. Neither the surrounding area nor the tailings perform any higher level of radiation then the background (only random measuring was carried out). It can be expected that virtually unceasing wind could possibly transport radiating particles at a long distance.