Crystal River 3 Nuclear Power Plant, closed nuclear power plant in Florida
Crystal River Nuclear Plant is a retired nuclear power station in Citrus County, near the Gulf of Mexico coast in Florida. The facility covers a large area with heavy concrete structures, steel piping, and a tall cylindrical containment building that once housed the reactor core.
The reactor began producing electricity in 1977 after construction started in the late 1960s. It was permanently shut down in 2009 after cracks were discovered in the concrete containment during planned maintenance work, making repairs too costly to continue.
The site is not open to the public and remains secured by fences and security checkpoints. Visitors can view the grounds from outside but should respect all barriers and warning signs, as the decommissioning process will continue for many years.
The tall containment structure with its thick concrete walls was designed to hold back radiation and protect the reactor from outside forces. The dismantling of this structure is expected to last until 2074, with some materials remaining on site until they can be safely disposed of.
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