A turquoise lake in Spain popular among Instagrammers is being compared to the Siberian Seychelles, as the body of water is revealed as a chemically-contaminated, World War-era former mine.
Monte Neme, in the region of Bergantiños, appears to have crystal clear waters and has attracted Instagram lovers keen to pose in front of the seemingly idyllic scene, with some even bathing in the chemically-contaminated waters.
The site, now dubbed by many as the ‘Galician Chernobyl’, was used as a tungsten mine that supplied the material for making light bulbs and hardening steel during the First and Second World War.
A turquoise lake in Spain popular among Instagrammers is being compared to the Siberian Seychelles, as the body of water revealed as a chemically-contaminated, World War-era former mine
Monte Neme, in the region of Bergantiños, appears to have crystal clear waters and has attracted Instagram users keen to pose in front of the seemingly idyllic scene
The site, now dubbed by many as the ‘Galician Chernobyl’, was used as a tungsten mine that supplied the material for making light bulbs and hardening steel during the First and Second World War
Pictured: Instagrammers pose at Monte Neme toxic lake, dubbed by many as the ‘Galician Chernobyl’
Pictured: Man poses at Monte Neme toxic lake, dubbed by many as the ‘Galician Chernobyl’
The body of water remains toxic and is surrounded by mounds of heavy metals like tungsten and lead that leak into the water, and can be dangerous to anyone who enters.
Those who have gone for a short bathe at Monte Neme have complained of eye and skin irritation.
A local Instagrammer told Spanish newspaper Publico she decided to bathe in the bright, turquoise waters because it looked ‘very pretty’ and she saw no signs saying swimming was banned.
The body of water remains toxic and is surrounded by mounds of heavy metals like tungsten and lead that leak into the water, posing serious health risks to anyone who enters
Those who have gone for a short bathe at Monte Neme have complained of eye and skin irritation
A local Instagrammer told Spanish newspaper Publico she decided to bathe in the bright, turquoise waters because it looked ‘very pretty’ and she saw no signs saying swimming was banned
Authorities warn prolonged or repeated exposure can pose more serious health risks
Pictured: Woman poses at Monte Neme toxic lake, dubbed by many as the ‘Galician Chernobyl’
Pictured: Man poses at Monte Neme toxic lake, dubbed by many as the ‘Galician Chernobyl’
She soon began vomiting and developed a nasty skin rash, which persisted for about two weeks.
Authorities warn prolonged or repeated exposure can pose more serious health risks.
Monte Neme has drawn comparisons to a Russian beauty spot known as the Siberian Seychelles or Russian Maldives, a toxic dumping ground drawing in Instagram influencers with its stunning waters and dazzling white sand.
Pictured: Couple pose at Monte Neme toxic lake, dubbed by many as the ‘Galician Chernobyl’
Pictured: Couple pose at Monte Neme toxic lake, dubbed by many as the ‘Galician Chernobyl’
Pictured: Woman poses at Monte Neme toxic lake, dubbed by many as the ‘Galician Chernobyl’
Pictured: Woman poses at Monte Neme toxic lake, dubbed by many as the ‘Galician Chernobyl’
The tropical-looking landscape is located near the Russian city of Novosibirsk, where winter temperatures plunge to minus 40C.
The vision is entirely created by a nearby brown coal-boring power plant generating electricity.
The bright blue water has a high PH and contains dissolved metal oxides.
Monte Neme has drawn comparisons to a Russian beauty spot known as the Siberian Seychelles or Russian Maldives (pictured)
The toxic dumping ground draws in Instagram influencers with its stunning waters and dazzling white sand (Pictured: Woman poses for photo at Siberian Seychelles)
The vision is entirely created by a nearby brown coal-boring power plant generating electricity (Pictured: Woman poses for photo at Siberian Seychelles)
The bright blue water has a high PH and contains dissolved metal oxides (Pictured: Woman poses for photo at Siberian Seychelles)
Its name is translated as Lake Ash Dump – and it receives the waste from the nearby power station named TPP-5 and owned by the Siberian Generating Company.
The company is owned by 47-year-old tycoon Andrey Melnichenko – worth £10.75 billion – and famed for his ocean-going Sailing Yacht A and Motor Yacht A.
The electric blue waters of the lake are formed by a chemical reaction from the waste of the power plant.
The company warned: ‘We beg you not to fall into the ash dump in the pursuit of selfies. That is the biggest danger.’
Pictured: Woman poses for photo at polluted lake known as Siberian Seychelles
Pictured: Woman poses for photo in a red swimsuit with lake in the background
Pictured: Woman poses with inflatable pink flamingo in front of lake at Russian ‘beauty spot’ known as the Siberian Seychelles
Swimming is probated and visitors flocking to the tropical-looking site are warned by the company that strolling along the beach here ‘is like walking at a military training ground – dangerous and undesirable’.
They are told: ‘This is not a city beach – there are no lifeguards on the shore and there cannot be…
‘The water in the ash dump is not for drinking, but technical, that is, it contains dissolved salts of calcium and other metal oxides, as well as high pH.
‘This water is used only to transport ash.
‘Skin contact with such water may cause local allergic reactions due to high mineralisation.’
Pictured: Woman poses in front of toxic Russian lake, dubbed the ‘Russian Maldives’
Pictured: Woman poses in front of toxic Russian lake, dubbed the ‘Russian Maldives’
Pictured: Woman poses in front of toxic Russian lake, dubbed the ‘Russian Maldives’
There are denials that it poses a threat to life but the authorities are seeking to keep the flood of visitors away from the lake.
Ecological campaigner Ulyana Artamonova was filmed as if she was on a tropical beach but she said: ‘After visiting, my face was covered with a small rash.’
She suffered from ‘a dry throat and nose’.
Pictured: Man sits on inflatable unicorn in toxic lake dubbed the ‘Russian Maldives’
Pictured: Woman poses with dog in front of toxic Russian lake, dubbed the ‘Russian Maldives’
Visitors say that the soles of their sandals flake off after walking along the water line, reported the Siberian Times.
Photographer Mikhail Reshetnikov said: ‘When you drive up to this lake, there is a very strong smell of laundry detergent, of alkali…
‘Naturally, there is no desire to touch such water.
‘You just feel that this is not a safe place.’
Another local said: ‘It’s not Chernobyl, for sure, but still unsafe.’
Pictured: Woman poses on toxic Russian lake, dubbed the ‘Russian Maldives’
Pictured: Man sits on inflatable unicorn in toxic lake dubbed the ‘Russian Maldives’