Physical landscape adjacent to and in the Polygon

Some area residents conjured up superstitious reasons for the site being selected. These included that the Polygon was the center of Eurasia, which it is, and thus a converging place where spiritual forces are at work. This spiritual convergence is also attributed to three famous Kazakh writers and philosophers Abai, Shakarim, and Auezov, who were born in the region. 

The number of tests conducted varies by source. Cochran et al. (1989), states there were 467 explosions Stevenson (2004 27) notes there were 607 nuclear devices. Boztayev (1998), who was mayor of Semipalatinsk, reported there were 509 and one additional blast in 1995. Bulatov (1996) identified 470 explosions. See Skholnik (2002) for a discussion of these issues and also Werner and Purvis-Roberts (2007 296). Some sources counted the number of explosions, while others only the number of tests. According to the Ministry of Atomic Energy and the Ministry of Defense of Russia there were 463 explosions plus 1 in 1995 test (an exploded ordinance) (Boztayev (1998 16-42). I used this source as it listed the number of a test, the date, and the kilotons. 

Huge blasts occurred on 29 August 1949 (the first blast), 24 September 1951, 12 August 1953, and 24 August 1956. All sent radioactive clouds over villages and agricultural land downwind (Fig. 101.3). Three blasts each were recorded on these 

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