Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Visitor Center

The Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant was Lithuania's Soviet-era nuclear facility, housing two RBMK-1500 reactors — the same design as Chernobyl, but more powerful. The plant generated up to 80% of Lithuania's electricity before being decommissioned as a condition of EU membership (Unit 1 closed in 2004, Unit 2 in 2009). The visitor center provides a fascinating look at nuclear energy, the plant's history, and the massive decommissioning project. Exhibits explain the RBMK reactor design, the safety issues that led to the Chernobyl disaster, and the complex engineering required to safely dismantle a nuclear facility. The nearby purpose-built Soviet city of Visaginas — originally Sniečkus — adds another dimension to the visit.