2. This is a diagram of a RBMK reactor, the same design as Chernobyl’s Reactor 4. As a result of the power surge, the radio active fuel and core materials were released into the air. This led to a fire because the graphite moderator was highly combustable. Pulse.pharmacy.arizona.edu

3. This picture was taken 3 days after the largest nuclear disaster in history. The destroyed reactor is shown in front of the chimney. bostonglobe.com

4. On June 13, 1986 a helicopter flies over the abandoned plant spraying a decontaminant in an effort to clean the area. Bostonglobe.com

5. An abandoned ferris wheel remains neglected in the ghost town of Pripyat, which is less than 2 miles away Chernobyl. The newly built amusement park was supposed to be debuted during the May Day celebration, two weeks after the Chernobyl disaster. Wilmothighschool.com

6. Even after 25 years, Pripyat (which used to be the home of 50,000 people) remains uninhabitable. Bostonglobe.com

7. The Vehicle Graveyard near Chernobyl contains many vehicles that were used in the clean-up. Chernobyl-disaster.com

8. Michael and Vladimir, 16 years old, are twin brothers from Belarus. Michael, who has hydrocephalus, is five minutes older than Vladimir, who is deaf. Pixelpress.org (photo essay)

9. Some areas in the closed zones near Chernobyl still have dangerously high levels of radiation. They will remain closed for up to900 years. pixelpress.org

10. Three out of four children in Belarus are born unhealthy in heavily affected areas. Because some families are unable to care for their mentally handicapped children, they are put in to state institutions. Pixelpress.org

11. A woman is screen for thyroid cancer in the Ukraine. Bostonglobe.com

12. After the explosion, a ‘sarcophagus’ around reactor 4 was quickly constructed. A Geiger shows the readings of the radiation levels in the air. Bostonglobe.com