Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai
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Zheleznogorsk (Russian: Железного́рск; approx. ) is a closed town in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, with a developed nuclear industry. It was formerly known as Krasnoyarsk-26. Population: 93,875 (2002 Census).
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[edit] History
In 1950 the former Soviet Union created the closed city of Krasnoyarsk -26 for production of weapons plutonium. [1] The history of the town and the associated defense complex are intertwined. Defense plants included nuclear facilities built within caverns excavated in the granite mountain on the norther edge of the city as well as space research enterprises.[2]
The town was a secret city in the Soviet Union until President Boris Yeltsin decreed in 1992 that such cities could use their historical names. The town appeared on no official maps until then. As is the tradition with Soviet towns containing secret facilities (e.g., Ozersk aka Chelyabinsk-40, Seversk aka Tomsk-7, Sarov aka Arzamas-16), Krasnoyarsk-26 is actually a P.O. Box number and implies that the place is located some distance from the city of Krasnoyarsk. The town was also known as Soctown, Iron City, the Nine[3], and Atom Town.[2]
[edit] Economy
Zheleznogorsk is the location of the Krasnoyarsk Mining and Chemical Combine, a combine which played a significant role in the early Russian nuclear weapons production campaigns.
Zheleznogorsk is also the location for the production of plutonium, electricity and district heat using graphite-moderated water-cooled reactors (currently only one remains operating). It is the location of a military reprocessing facility and for a Russian commercial nuclear-waste storage facility.
[edit] Trivia
In Sidney Sheldon's novel, The Sky Is Falling, Krasnoyarsk-26 features prominently as a major factor in the murder of the Winthrops.
[edit] External links
- Information about Zheleznogorsk from the Nuclear Cities Initiative website (English)
- A site about Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarsk region, Russia: information, photos and articles. (Russian) (English)
[edit] References
- ^ Information about the Krasnoyarsk Mining and Chemical Combine—the primary industry in Zheleznogorsk (Russian)
- ^ a b Atom Town, Edited by Vladimir Medvedev, "Bear" Company, Zheleznogorsk
- ^ The Siberia Chemical Building Company was located in Zheleznogorsk but had a different postal code, Krasnoyarsk - 9.
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