Chagan

Kazakhstan


Roughly halfway along the R-174 from Semey to Kurchatov, a turnoff leads towards a former closed town, populated by military personnel until the collapse of the Soviet Union. This was the airbase where the bombers used in the Polygon testing were based. The apartment buildings have been completely gutted, with flocks of crows and rooks taking off as you approach. It makes a creepy and atmospheric stop for ghost town enthusiasts.