Żarnowiec Nuclear Power Plant, Unfinished nuclear power plant in Gmina Krokowa, Poland.
Żarnowiec is an unfinished nuclear power plant in Gmina Krokowa near Lake Żarnowiec, where four reactor blocks stand in different construction phases. The concrete halls and scaffolding cover about 80 hectares, with towers and empty chambers now surrounded by vegetation.
Construction began in 1982 when Poland sought to expand its electricity supply and the first foundations for the reactors were poured. After a referendum and political shifts, the project ended in 1990 and the plant never entered operation.
The name Żarnowiec comes from the nearby lake, which has shaped the local landscape for centuries and now draws anglers and water sports enthusiasts. The cooling water pipes and canals once intended for the reactors now sit silent among the concrete walls, a reminder of a time when Poland was reshaping its energy future.
The grounds are not open to the public, but specialist groups can apply for visit permits through the local municipality. The structures lie close to the coast, where paths and roads lead to the entrances, but access is dangerous without proper safety measures.
Inside the halls lie still-packaged turbines and control equipment from the Soviet Union that were never installed. This gear has hardly rusted despite decades outdoors because it sits in special protective wraps.
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