Chkalovsk, Tajikistan: the former atomic capital of the empire

The rapid flourishing of industry in the USSR in the second half of the twentieth century caused the construction of huge plants and factories, which began to grow over their cities and towns. One of them became the city of Chkalovsk in Tajikistan. In the Ferghana Valley in its time was built Leninabad Mining and Chemical Combine. Under this dull name, the first uranium enrichment enterprise in the USSR was hidden . For many years the city, which had strategic importance, was a closed facility, it was possible to get to where only special passes were allowed. This explains the peculiar appearance of Chkalovsk (Tajikistan), whose schools were produced by future specialists in the nuclear industry.

Reasons for the appearance of the city

Russia came to Central Asia for cotton, the supply of which stopped during the civil war in the United States. However, the real wealth of this land is uranium. Mineral, which until the 20th century was used only as a dye for glass and ceramics, unexpectedly became one of the most important strategic resources. The first radiobarites were mined in tsarist times, and during the war the uranium mine in Mailuu-su began to operate.

After the explosion of the American bomb over Hiroshima, the USSR began feverishly building its own nuclear industry. The source of uranium was the mines of the South-Western Tien Shan. Accordingly, it was required to build an enterprise for processing and enriching ore near the extraction site. The largest settlement in this region was Leninabad, now Khojent. It was near him that they decided to build the largest combine, which became the pioneer of the atomic industry of the Soviet Union. It was to this node that the transport arteries from the uranium deposits of Central Asia had to converge.

Construction of the city

Chkalovsk in Tajikistan has a complicated history. The construction of the Leninabad Mining and Chemical Combine started in early 1945. Specialists from all over the country gathered here, the first test rigs, without wasting time, were mounted directly in the huts, the nuclear industry of the country was born literally in wooden boilers. In parallel, the construction of Sotsgorod-6 - a settlement at the plant was carried out. It was built mainly by Volga Germans from the Komi camps.

Having judiciously judged that the Central Asian climate is much healthier for life than the northern one, most of them remained here after the completion of the construction. Wooden barracks were replaced by communal apartments, and later there were "hruschoby", in which the nuclear industry specialists from all over the country began to live.

It was here that the first atomic bomb was created and the first nuclear reactor was launched.

What is Leninabad-30?

In 1956, Sotsgorod-6 at the Leninabad Mining and Chemical Combine officially received the status of the city and became Chkalovsky. Tajikistan has become the real home of Soviet medium-sized machine building. So in those years, the atomic complex was mysteriously called. At the same time, he remained a regime ZATO and had the address of Leninabad-30.

Minsredmash USSR could really be considered a state in the state. Accordingly, the unknown Chkalovsk in Tajikistan has become a real capital in this peculiar place. Specialists from all over the country came here to learn and gain experience in combat situations from other closed cities in Siberia and Central Asia.

Heavy equipment and fruits that were grown in the state farm "Pallas", diverge in the opposite direction. G. Chkalovsk of Tajikistan became the most real Mecca of the Union's nuclear engineers.

Science and Culture of a Small City

One of the first civilian objects of Chkalovsk (Tajikistan) was the magnificent palace of culture, built in 1949 on the central square. The opening of the Palace of Culture was a brilliant ball, which brought together the builders of the city. Originally it was designed to accommodate an educational institution, but it was decided to give it to cultural figures.

Central Asian Polytechnic named after the Lenin Komsomol was built on the opposite side of the square. The educational institution Minsredmash trained specialists in the nuclear industry throughout the country and was the second symbol of the city along with the famous combine. Today it is renamed into the Mining and Metallurgical Institute of Tajikistan and trains specialists of the republic's mining industry.

Also in the city operates the Russian Drama Theater, who moved to Chkalovsk (Tajikistan) from the former Leninabad, and now Khujand.

Showcase of Central Asia

The capital of the nuclear industry and the closed zone lived according to their own laws and supplied much better than their neighbors. Many even called the small town a small Moscow. Photo of Chkalovsk in Tajikistan until 1991 is a rarity due to the regime. However, even on existing buildings and structures, one can get an impression of the shape of Atomobad, as a joke it was called in the republic.

The center of the city is built up by apartment buildings of high comfort by Soviet standards. The reason for this was an earthquake that occurred near Khujand in the late eighties. The city did not have any casualties, but many buildings were destroyed. Civil architecture in the eighties in the USSR reached its heyday, and many sought to live in new buildings of those years. Many new houses were built in Chkalovsk in return for the damaged ones.

Buston

After the collapse of the USSR, the former union republics overtook a wave of renaming. The Central Asian powers did not escape this fate either. Frunze became Bishkek, Leninabad - Khujand. Until recently, Chkalovsk in Tajikistan retained the title of the only city with a Russian toponym. However, due to the fact that the non-indigenous population left the republic almost completely, it was time for Chkalovsk to change its name. Initially, the poetically minded city leaders decided to call him Shokhkant, which means the royal city.

However, the central government decided to besiege arrogant Khojents and gave the city a prosaic name Buston - a blooming one. The Mining and Chemical Combine, which was the heart of the country, changed its specialization after the independence of Tajikistan and Chkalovsk. From now on, gold ore began to be processed here, jewelery enterprises began to work. Today the plant is not going through the best days and is on the verge of extinction, which would be bad for Tajikistan. Chkalovsk today is mainly held by its own institution and is, in fact, a student city.