АBISHEVA ALIYA EJ-30
Ghost town
That is how Stepnogorsk is called to this day. A city that was closed and secret for a long time. It was not depicted on maps, and in documents it was referred to as Tselinograd-25 or Makinsk-2. The history of creation begins in the distant 1959, when the first plant was built.
Why closed?
The main reason was the Tselinny Mining and Chemical Combine (its main specialization is the processing of uranium ore), as well as the Stepnogorsk Scientific Experimental Industrial Base (it developed and produced bacteriological weapons). The city was under the leadership of Moscow and was fully provided, just as the United States for a long time looking for where the Soviet Union had built a base. In 1983-1987. a combat strain of anthrax was mass-produced, and other samples were also tested, in particular, the weapons-grade "variant Y" of the Marburg virus. All this happened under the leadership of Kanatzhan Alibekov, who led a group of the best military scientists who created a strain that was unprecedented in terms of mortal danger and prevalence.
The city was built at a distance of 18 km from the plant. But before the SNOPB appeared, the Progress plant was built, which is standing and operating to this day. It was the largest microbiological plant in the USSR, equipped with the latest technology. Bioadditives were made there for the needs of animal husbandry, plant protection products necessary for both large farms and summer residents and farmers. Now a large number of citizens work on it and develop strains against viruses.
Returning to biological weapons, it must be clarified that all the action took place in bunkers. The cellars were 90 meters down, which then flooded. Now there is no access to them, but there are residents who managed to visit there and see everything with their own eyes. For example, Nadezhda Mikhailovna, an English teacher at school-gymnasium No. 6, said that after the disclosure of the city, Americans came to see how it all happened and she was called in as an interpreter. Before entering, she was obliged to sign a document on non-disclosure of secrets, but many years have passed and now it is no longer a secret.
BUNKER
They were also all wearing hazmat suits and gas masks for safety. According to her recollections, it was very dark and damp, mostly they went down for a long time. Since at that time the production was stopped, they could not see the process itself. But at the top there were more buildings, these workshops, warehouses and workshops had only digital designations, for example, Workshop 221st. Also, a mini-cattle depot, a headquarters and a medical center worked on the territory of the base. Nadezhda Mikhailovna told a story about the 600th shop. According to her, he was remembered the most. It was an isolated firing range for testing combat units of bacteriological weapons. The shooting range was inside a 200 cubic meter stainless steel capsule with a wall thickness of 1.6 cm. The capsule was mounted on an octagonal concrete pad with a waste trap capsule. In it, monkeys and rabbits from the base's vivarium were poisoned with aerosols.
City Building Secrets
"5-14-163" - you can say that this is a cipher, but the inhabitants will immediately understand what place it is. In Stepnogorsk, they don’t name the intersection of streets, all we say is the number of the microdistrict, house and apartment. This decision was made because of its secrecy. If spies or secret agents of the United States were listening in on the conversation, then they would not understand in life where everything is, because microdistricts have not yet been signed in the city, only a resident can distinguish them.
But the secrets don't end there. If you look at it from above, you can see that it is built in blocks, which is a big feature. AT Kazakhstan has strong winds, and uranium mines are very close to the settlement, because of this, the houses are located so that the wind passes through the city and blows radiation out of it. Uranium mines should be filled with water for safety, but this was not done and such a solution had to be found. Unfortunately, still in the city a large number of people die from oncology, and the level of radiation is much higher than the norm.
The most interesting feature is that the city was built by prisoners and the military. In a short time they built 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 9 microdistricts, in the 10th there are only a few unfinished houses. In the entire history, only two new houses appeared in the city and it was a great event for the population. There are also many stories about prisoners and their messages. For example, residents of house No. 19 in the 3rd microdistrict said that when they were doing repairs, they found a letter under the wallpaper on the wall. It was addressed to the prisoner's daughter, whose name was Maria and she was 5 years old at that time. He wrote how much he loves her and that he misses her very much. He asked her forgiveness and promised that he would return home soon.
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Now it is difficult to get to Stepnogorsk. Trains and buses do not go here, only taxi drivers save the day. But earlier there was even an airport in the city!
In the microdistricts there were a film and photo club, a radio club, clubs for young technicians, etc. Then there were three cinemas, one of which was for children, and the other was a two-screen. Now you can only watch movies at home.
A stadium for 10,000 seats was built next to the city park, a chess club and children's attractions worked. There was even a football team "Khimik", which played for the Tselinograd region.
All the suburbs came to Stepnogorsk for food, only here people could buy pastries or even fruits, at that time the city was the largest commercial and industrial center.
All the suburbs came to Stepnogorsk for food, only here people could buy pastries or even fruits, at that time the city was the largest commercial and industrial center.
MOTANYA -
the main attraction of Stepnogorsk.
Railway fans come to the city every year. Especially connoisseurs are delighted with the ER-22 train, which they consider a legend. The city of Stepnogorsk is the only place in the world where they are still used as transport. Local residents are calm about the fact that they go to work on a museum exhibit. However, among themselves they do not call this transport an electric train, but use another word - motanya.
Railway fans come to the city every year. Especially connoisseurs are delighted with the ER-22 train, which they consider a legend. The city of Stepnogorsk is the only place in the world where they are still used as transport. Local residents are calm about the fact that they go to work on a museum exhibit. However, among themselves they do not call this transport an electric train, but use another word - motanya.
SPZ - Stepnogorsk Bearing Plant
The plant was founded in 1976. On December 27, 1977, the first bearing was produced. In 2001, the Stepnogorsk Bearing Plant was the largest (in terms of turnover) enterprise within the European Bearing Corporation.
SPZ is not just a plant, but a whole story. A physics teacher was talking about her husband, who worked and made bearings. And then a big order came from Switzerland for the train, they then had to work day and night. But their team perfectly coped with the task and now in Europe, a train with bearings from Stepnogorsk is running somewhere.
OUR DAYS
Now the city is not developing as much as before. But it doesn't stand still and gets better every year.
Recently, the city's central streets have been repaired, lighting has been installed, and a MAF obligatory for Kazakhstani cities has been installed: "I love Stepnogorsk." Bookcrossing has also appeared. This is a street library where everyone can put and take a book.
Recently, the city's central streets have been repaired, lighting has been installed, and a MAF obligatory for Kazakhstani cities has been installed: "I love Stepnogorsk." Bookcrossing has also appeared. This is a street library where everyone can put and take a book.
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Now the city is engaged in greenhouse farming. A greenhouse built according to the Dutch system operates in Stepnogorsk. It grows vegetables according to the technology of colleagues from the Netherlands. Products can be found throughout Kazakhstan, especially in the capital of the country. Roses and tulips are also grown in Stepnogorsk.
