Mayak

Greenpeace briefing

Publication date: October 2002

Summary
Hidden in Russia's Southern Ural Mountains, the Mayak Chemical Combine is the world's largest nuclear complex. It is responsible for destroying hundreds of thousands of people's lives.

Over the last five decades Mayak has discharged frightening quantities of radioactivity into the surrounding land and waterways. Until recently it was deleted from every map of Russia. Mayak now holds the inauspicious title of the most nuclear contaminated place on the planet. Mayak's operation has been plagued with nuclear disasters, environmental contamination and public health scandals.