The Semipalatinsk Test Site, also known as "The Polygon", was the primary testing venue for the Soviet Union's nuclear weapons. It is located in Zhanasemey District, Abai Region, Kazakhstan, south of the valley of the Irtysh River. The test site was part of the former Kazakh SSR. The scientific buildings for the test site were located around 150 km (93 mi) west of the town of Semipalatinsk, later renamed Semey, near the border of East Kazakhstan Region and Pavlodar Region. Most of the nuclear tests taking place at various sites further to the west and the south, some as far as into Karagandy Region.
Crater from a USSR nuclear test at Semipalatinsk. 2008 photo
Igor Kurchatov's radio and a portrait of Vladimir Lenin, found at the old test site
Kazakh steppe landscape and a drilling tower in the Semipalatinsk test site (2003)
Console from the old Soviet test site. 2009 photo
Abai Region is a region of Kazakhstan. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced on 16 March 2022 that the region would be created. The area split off from East Kazakhstan Region when Tokayev's bill came into force on 8 June 2022. The administrative center of the region is Semey, until 2007 known as Semipalatinsk. Its borders roughly correspond to the old Semipalatinsk Region which was liquidated in 1997 and merged with East Kazakhstan Region.
Image: Crater Flickr The Official CTBTO Photostream
Image: Город Семей
Image: RIAN archive 440215 Kurchatov city
