Sosnovy Bor, Nuclear research city in Leningrad Oblast, Russia.
Sosnovy Bor is a coastal settlement along the Gulf of Finland, positioned about 80 kilometers west of Saint Petersburg in Leningrad Oblast. The town sits in flat terrain with pine forests surrounding it and has two railway stations linking it to the nearest major city.
The settlement was founded in 1958 to house workers building a nuclear power station and grew quickly during Soviet industrialization campaigns. It officially gained town status in 1973 when the first reactor went online.
The settlement kept its wooded character with green spaces between residential blocks, typical of closed nuclear cities built during this period. Many residents still work at the power station or related scientific facilities, creating a distinct community centered around technical professions.
Access for visitors without permanent residence requires a special permit that must be requested in advance. The two railway stations offer connections to Saint Petersburg with suburban trains running several times daily.
The settlement was designed as a closed city, meaning its infrastructure and services were built entirely around the needs of power station workers and their families. Around 70,000 people live here today in an environment still shaped by its industrial purpose.
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