Abandoned buildings in Kurchatov

Even though there is no more nuclear testing, this is not to say that lingering health problems and economic problems do not remain. The region is still important for raising crops and livestock and some levels of contamination remain. Many in crop and livestock economies work on marginal agricultural land and live at almost subsistence levels. They sell their products in Semey, or Pavlodar, a two or three hour bus trip, the nearest city to the west. 

Today it is easy for almost anyone to enter the Polygon as there are no sentries at gated entries. What remains are abandoned border crossings (at one time twelve heavily guarded) with outposts and dilapidated structures and broken fences. People 

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