Temelín Nuclear Power Plant
The Temelín Nuclear Power Plant is an electricity generation facility near the village of Temelín in South Bohemia, Czech Republic. The site comprises two large reactor units with massive concrete buildings and gray cooling towers rising over 150 meters (492 feet) that continuously release water vapor into the air.
Construction began in the late 1980s following plans drawn up in early 1980s Czechoslovakia. Work halted after the Chernobyl accident and resumed only in the early 21st century, when both reactors finally started producing electricity for the grid.
The name Temelín comes from the nearby village of the same name, which local people still use as a reference point when giving directions. The cooling towers have become a familiar part of the horizon, and their gently rising steam is now part of everyday life in the surrounding towns.
An information center near the facility offers explanations about the reactors and safety measures, though access to certain areas is restricted for security reasons. The surrounding area is well maintained and the site can be viewed during daylight hours, with the cooling towers most visible at sunset.
After the Fukushima accident, the facility underwent strict stress tests that examined how well it could withstand extreme weather conditions. Satellite images show that soil temperature and moisture in the surrounding area have measurably changed since the plant was built.
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