History

Sunday, 1 March 2026
42 facts about Kyshtym disaster
42 facts about Kyshtym disaster
The first nuclear accident in Earth's history
Before information about it saw the light of day, the Soviets hid it for over 30 years. The explosion at the Mayak combine was the first nuclear accid ...

Did you know?

Masada
Masada has become a symbol for Israelis of heroic struggle to the very end.
Swearing-in ceremonies are regularly held at the ruins for Israeli soldiers, who take a military oath that reads, "Masada shall never fall again."
Jamestown
Historians state that the settlement was built on a swampy peninsula, with no close proximity to fresh water.
The nearest fresh water depot, James River, was located 94 kilometers away from the settlement.
Kyshtym disaster
A radiochemical plant for plutonium separation was also erected at the complex, which was named Plant-B.
The complex was given the name "Mayak Combine" at a much later stage, when not only the number of reactors increased, but also the radiochemical plant was expanded.
Ancient Sumer
The Sumerian language is an isolated language.
This means that it has no connection to any language we know, be it ancient or modern. Research into the Sumerian language has been going on for over 150 years.
Battle of Thermopylae
Shortly before the battle, Leonidas turned for a prophecy to the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi.
An oracle was called a sacred place where the gods, through the intermediary of priests, foretold th ...
Troy
Troy III, IV and V existed from 2200 to 1700 BC. 
During this period the city developed gradually. Archaeological finds indicate trade links between Troy and early Greek city-states, including Mycenae.
Mali Empire
A major unit of trade in the Mali Empire was salt.
It was as valuable, if not more valuable, than gold in sub-Saharan Africa. A particular source of it ...
Kyshtym disaster
It was not only the population of the surrounding villages that suffered the consequences of the explosion.
Not only the atmosphere but also the soil, grass, and water were contaminated. In the villages close ...
Troy
During Troy VIII, which lasted from 700 to 85 BC, the city flourished again.
The ruins of the magnificent Temple of Athena and the remains of two altars date from this period.
Kyshtym disaster
Residential and commercial buildings in the four most contaminated villages were razed to the ground.
The destroyed buildings were placed in pits and then buried. The villages were razed to the ground, and currently, none of them appear on the map.