How to feed giant catfish in Chernobyl

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Chernobyl cooling pond is the habitat of one's of the most giant catfishes. Do not miss the opportunity to feed these creatures!

The cooling pond used to stabilize the temperature of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant reactors and now it is home of giant catfishes. Travelers from all over the world vizit Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant to see the infamous station, and at the same time feed the creatures with fresh bread.

Photo: Feeding bread to massive catfishes in the Chernobyl cooling pond near Pripyat, © Jonathan Wolfson

It may seem that the fish in the cooling pond are mutants, but it is not. For obvious reasons, catfishes are not caught in the exclusion zone, which is why they grow here to colossal proportions.

Photo: Catfish in the cooling pond of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, © Mr. Ed

How to do?

1. You can take bread either in advance, or buy it in Chernobyl grocery store, or you can find a canteen 19 and buy some bread there.
2. Come to Chernobyl NPP - here, on the brige over the waters of the cooling pond you will be able to feed the river monsters.
3. Be carefull! Sometimes catfish can attack pigeons also flocking to feast the treat.

Photo: Giant catfish is up to 3 metres long, © Jennifer Boyer

Where to do?

Cooling Pond Channel

An artificial reservoir built to cool the reactors of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is the habitat of the giant catfish.

Location: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

When to do?

From November to March, catfishes spend the winter at the bottom of the pond, so you can see and feed them only from April to October.

Tips and hints

Catfishes are accustomed to dining in the afternoon - time that they are fed by station employees. Therefore, during lunch time you can see a large accumulation of catfishes under the bridge.

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