Elephant's Foot (Chernobyl) location Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
Origin
The Elephant's Foot is a mass of black corium with many layers, externally resembling tree bark and glass. It was formed during the Chernobyl disaster in April 1986 and discovered in December 1986. It is named for its wrinkly appearance, suggestive of the foot of an elephant. It is one small part of a much larger mass that lies beneath Reactor No. 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The Elephant's Foot is located in Room 217/2, 15 metres (49 ft) to the southeast of the ruined reactor and 6 metres (20 ft) above ground level. The material making up the Elephant's Foot had burnt through at least 2 metres (6.6 ft) of reinforced concrete, then flowed through pipes and fissures and down a hallway to reach its current location.
place position site locale spot