Zheleznogorsk, Closed industrial city in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia.
Zheleznogorsk sits in the foothills of the Sayan range and spreads along several hills above small rivers. Soviet-era residential buildings shape the townscape, joined by a few newer structures and green strips between the blocks.
The settlement began in 1950 as a secret center for military atomic programs and received the cover name Krasnoyarsk-26. After the end of the Soviet Union, the place was officially recognized and has carried its current name since the nineties.
Residents often refer to the place by its former code name, which remained secret until the disclosure in the nineties. Streets and shops rarely carry historical signs, showing the long period of isolation.
Entry requires authorization and is monitored at checkpoints set up on the town's edge. Travelers should apply for all documents in advance and check current regulations for visitors.
Industrial facilities were built inside the granite mountains, so wide parts of production take place underground. Tunnels and galleries run for several kilometers and connect workspaces deep inside the rock.
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