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Coordinates 50°07′N 78°43′E
Test Site Area ∼ 18,500 km²

Foundation Date - August 21, 1947
Closure Date - October 21, 1991

First Test - August 29, 1949
Last Test - October 19, 1989

Tests - 456

Underground - 340
In the atmosphere - 116

On the steppe in northeast Kazakhstan, the Semipalatinsk Test Site, known as ‘the Polygon’, was once home to nearly a quarter of the world’s nuclear testing.

The vast and flat landscape, the kind of place often misleadingly described as “uninhabited”, provided anonymity and isolation for the former Soviet Union leaders. However the steppe was also home to a delicate and thriving ecosystem made up of mountains, hills and pine forests running along the river Irtysh.

The region held a sacred meaning to Kazakhs. The birthplace of intellectual literature and culture, famous for its musicians, poets and writers.

For the inhabitants, the 465 nuclear tests conducted during its existence had dire consequences on an ancient landscape that supported traditional pasturelands with little regard for their effect on the local people or the environment, leading to devastating long-term impacts.

In 1989 one of the first major anti-nuclear movements “Nevada Semipalatinsk” was formed. It was spearheaded by author Olzhas Suleimenov and attracted thousands of people to its protests and campaigns which eventually led to the closure of the site in 1991.

TRACKS

Alash-kala
Saryzhal
Polygon
Sary-Uzen
Chagan
Balapan
Degelen

ALL TRACKS COMPOSED AND PERFORMED BY GALYA BISENGALIEVA

PUBLISHED BY ONE LITTLE INDEPENDENT RECORDS
RECORDED AT NOMAD MUSIC PRODUCTIONS
PRODUCED BY GALYA BISENGALIEVA, ROBERT AMES, BEN CORRIGAN
MIXED BY OLGA FITZROY AT AIR MANAGEMENT
MASTERED BY DENIS BLACKHAM AT SKYE MASTERING
VINYL CUT BY CHRISTIAN WRIGHT AT ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS

DESIGN BY SHREY KATHURIA
IMAGERY BY PHILIP HATCHER-MOORE

SARYZHAL SINGLE LISTEN HERE
ALASH-KALA SINGLE LISTEN HERE
BALAPAN SINGLE LISTEN HERE

POLYGON ALBUM ORDER HERE