Isotopia

"[N]ature lovers have discovered Chernobyl. The region near the scene of the world's worst nuclear accident is now dubbed the 'Chernobyl Riviera' for its grand homes and commanding vistas.

Twenty-one years after a reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded, ripping off the roof, and spewing radioactive poison into the countryside, Ukrainian holiday-makers are flocking to the region to bask in its quiet and enjoy the abundant wilderness that sprang to life when humans were forcibly evacuated.

Today, the woods and waters surrounding the village of Strakholissya – a half-hour drive from the stricken plant – are among the best hunting and fishing grounds in Ukraine. Wild boar, deer and wolves roam in the dense birch and pine forests.

Recently, Ukraine's rich and famous discovered the tranquil spot. They are mainly from Kiev, townspeople say, and they have built a line of lavish homes, hidden from prying villagers' eyes by tall fences.

[T]he forced evacuation of an entire region allowed nature to reclaim the area. [T]here is life in the trees and undergrowth circling the decaying villages. In one weather-beaten house, a birch tree could be seen growing inside the long-abandoned home.

A recent UN report said radiation levels are expected to remain high for decades. And a 2006 Greenpeace report said wild game, fish, berries and mushrooms have higher than safe levels [but] environmental uncertainties don't stop people from migrating to the region."