Catfish In The Chernobyl Nuclear Cooling Pond
The staff at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant feed giant catfish that live in the canal that supplies water from the cooling pond to the reactors, making them local celebrities. According to ARHEVE, the fish come to a bridge over the canal at lunchtime for treats. Radioactive contamination in the water has not stopped these fish, who are capable of living for up to 20 years.
The staff at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant feed giant catfish that live in the canal that supplies water from the cooling pond to the reactors, making them local celebrities. According to ARHEVE, the fish come to a bridge over the canal at lunchtime for treats. Radioactive contamination in the water has not stopped these fish, who are capable of living for up to 20 years.
It is not possible to definitively conclude that the giant catfish in the Chernobyl nuclear cooling pond is a mutant, as radiation affects plants and animals differently. According to chernobylstory.com/blog/chernobyl-giant-catfish/, the catfish in the pond have been growing larger due to the absence of predators and plentiful food sources, rather than mutation. Though radiation has caused mutations in some species, it is not known whether it affects catfish in this way.
Yes, there are giant catfish in Chernobyl's cooling pond, as confirmed by Earth Touch News in 2020. The species is the wels catfish, a species known to reach gargantuan proportions across much of its range.
What was the purpose of the Chernobyl cooling pond?
The Chernobyl Cooling Pond was used to pump water from the river Prypiat for cooling purposes, as well as for fishing and a home for animals. According to Chernobylstory.com, the pond was also used to disperse the smallest particles after the explosion in 1986.
Are radioactive catfish present in Chernobyl?
The radioactive wels catfish in the cooling pond of Chernobyl are huge due to the lack of predators, as seen in a YouTube video from WebMay 1, 2013. The absence of humans fishing for catfish is likely the main cause of their growth, as well as the lack of other natural predators in the area.
It is possible to safely fish in the cooling pond of Chernobyl without protective clothing such as Tyveks, according to a study conducted by the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute in 2019. The fish and other animals living in and around the area are mostly far from the areas where the meltdown occurred, making them safe to consume.
Despite popular belief, the giant catfish living in Chernobyl's cooling pond are not radiation mutants, but instead benefit from the isolated habitat that is free from predators and offers ample prey. According to WebJun, 2016, this isolated habitat is the perfect environment for catfish, as they are both active predators and scavengers. In addition, catfish have been found to adapt to changes in their environment, making them well-suited for living in the waters around Chernobyl.
The giant catfish living in the nuclear cooling pond of Chernobyl has been found to be radioactive, according to a WebRadioactive report in 2019. This finding supports the long-held belief that the exclusion zone is inhabited by two-headed wolves, enormous snakes, and mutant fish from Chernobyl rivers. Studies have found that the fish in the area are still contaminated by radiation even 30 years after the Chernobyl disaster.
The Chernobyl catfish is a mythically dangerous species of fish due to their high rate of radiation, as indicated by data from the Pripyat cooling pond, WebNov 8, 2016. Despite the myths and legends surrounding these fish, studies have shown that their radiation levels are generally safe for human consumption.
Feeding giant catfish in Chernobyl is possible by taking bread either in advance or buying it in the local grocery store or canteen 19, and then visiting the bridge over the waters of the cooling pond of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. According to Oddviser Web, catfish can be seen in large numbers there, and they will take pieces of bread from visitors' hands. This is a great opportunity to observe the wildlife of Chernobyl and learn more about its ecology.
This video shows people feeding catfish in the cooling pond of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 2012. Filmed by Chernobyl Tour in 2009, the footage shows the presence of fish in the pond despite the high radiation levels in the area. It is remarkable that a wide variety of species are able to survive in such an extreme environment.
What was the Chernobyl Cooling Pond?
The Chernobyl Cooling Pond was a large artificial reservoir built to cool the water of the four reactors of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. According to Chernobylstory.com, the pond was constructed to be simple, and it was the largest artificial reservoir in Ukraine at the time. In addition, the pond still contains some radioactive contaminants from the 1986 disaster.
Do nuclear power plants use cooling ponds?
Cooling ponds are used by nuclear power plants to reduce temperatures of heated water, and are often home to abundant wildlife despite the presence of radiation. The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant cooling pond in Pripyat, Ukraine is a notable example, with reports of wels catfish in the area despite the radiation present.
Do giant catfish inhabit the pond?
The Chernobyl cooling pond is home to giant radioactive mutated wels catfish, which have grown to extraordinary sizes due to the lack of predators and food given to them by tourists.
This photo shows a giant catfish swimming in the cooling pond of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The Chernobyl disaster is one of the most devastating nuclear accidents in history, releasing large amounts of radiation into the environment.
Have you seen this fish?
A monstrous fish species has been filmed in the cooling ponds of the Chernobyl nuclear plant by Eugene Mazurenko in 2016. Eugene dunked his camera in the pools, which are highly radioactive due to spent nuclear fuel, and captured several species of large catfish. The fish found in the cooling ponds are known to be highly resistant to radiation, and are believed to have adapted over time to survive in the harsh environment.
What are the impacts of cooling pond drainage?
This study provides data from a monitoring programme that compares the predicted radiological and ecological impacts of the drainage of a cooling pond with the actual outcomes. The programme revealed that the cooling pond drawdown had minimal environmental impacts.
Can workers feed Borka?
At the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, a 2 meter long catfish named Borka has become a celebrity among station workers, who feed it treats from the bridge over the canal that supplies water from the cooling pond to the reactors. Other large catfish also swim to the bridge at lunchtime for food.
What did Steinhauser research?
Georg Steinhauser recently conducted research in Chernobyl's cooling pond, which is one of the most contaminated lakes in the world. He was attempting to catch radioactive wels catfish that have grown to an abnormally large size due to exposure to the radiation in the lake.
