Chernobyl is a city located in northern Ukraine, near the border with Belarus. It gained international attention on April 26th, 1986 when there was an explosion and fire at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which led to one of the worst nuclear disasters in history. The accident released large amounts of radioactive material into the environment, causing widespread contamination and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people from the surrounding areas. The name "Chernobyl" has since become synonymous with catastrophic nuclear accidents and the long-term environmental and health consequences that can result from them.