Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
29 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
29 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
29 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
29 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Kazakhstan Semey Stronger Than Death Monument
AO Edited

Stronger Than Death Monument

This 100-foot tall tombstone memorializes victims of 40 years of nuclear testing in Kazakhstan.

Semey, Kazakhstan

Added By
Edward Denny
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Stronger Than Death Monument   Edward Denny / Atlas Obscura User
Stronger Than Death Monument   Edward Denny / Atlas Obscura User
Stronger Than Death Monument   We Overland
Stronger Than Death Monument   Jim Krehl
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Designed by Shota Valikhanov and erected on an island in the Irtysh River 2002, the “Stronger than Death” monument recalls Kazakhstan’s history as the fourth largest nuclear power by capacity and its leaders’ astonishing willingness to eventually give up that massive power. 

From 1949 to 1989, nearly 500 nuclear tests were conducted at the Semey site known as “The Polygon,” but following independence in 1991, the first President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, decided to end the nation’s nuclear programs by signing the START I treaty.  Unfortunately, the fallout from such extensive testing continues to this day as attested by this giant monument.

The terror of the monument’s mushroom cloud silhouette is punctuated by the marble centerpiece of a mother protecting her child while overhead, a giant atomic model hangs like a sword of Damocles. The true number of nuclear testing victims can never be known since elevated radiation has been recorded throughout Kazakhstan and its neighbors, but at least one million people in the Semipalatinsk region have been affected.  

The tragedy of Kazakhstan’s nuclear history is perhaps mitigated somewhat by its advocacy for nuclear disarmament. The first major anti-testing campaign, known as Nevada Semipalatinsk, was popularly organized in 1989 and led directly to the shutdown on the Polygon. 

Nazarbayev followed this with the establishment of the ATOM project ("Abolish Testing Our Mission”) in 2012, which organized an international coalition to combat nuclear proliferation. Today, the honorary ambassador for this program is Karipbek Kuyukov, an award-winning Kazakh painter born without arms as a result of exposure to radiation from the Semey site.

Related Tags

Memorials Monuments Nuclear
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars

A 2-Week, 4-Country Odyssey.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Edward Denny

Published

March 10, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://astanatimes.com/2021/04/kazakhstans-way-to-nuclear-disarmament/
Stronger Than Death Monument
Semey, 070000
Kazakhstan
50.392802, 80.262653
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Dostoevsky's Desk

Semey, Kazakhstan

miles away

Vladimir Lenin Busts and Statue

Semey, Kazakhstan

miles away

Semipalatinsk Polygon

Semey, Kazakhstan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Semey

Semey

Kazakhstan

Places 3

Nearby Places

Dostoevsky's Desk

Semey, Kazakhstan

miles away

Vladimir Lenin Busts and Statue

Semey, Kazakhstan

miles away

Semipalatinsk Polygon

Semey, Kazakhstan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Semey

Semey

Kazakhstan

Places 3

Related Places

  • Taipei, Taiwan

    Xingfu Village Monument

    A century-old monument to commemorate a crowd-funded public cemetery.

  • The eternal flame.

    Chennai, India

    Perarignar Anna Memorial

    The largest funeral ever held was for one of Tamil's most influential politicians.

  • Ob Hill as seen from Hut Point Peninsula, with penguins.

    McMurdo Station, Antarctica

    Observation Hill

    The steep slope known as “Ob Hill” overlooks an Antarctic research station.

  • The Countess Pillar.

    Brougham, England

    Countess Pillar

    A memorial overlooking a busy roadway is linked with the story of a 17th-century noblewoman’s legal battle for her inheritance.

  • The top of the Stairway to Heaven Memorial.

    London, England

    Stairway to Heaven Memorial

    An inverted staircase above the entrance to the Bethnal Green Underground Station functions as a memorial for people who lost their lives during the worst civilian disaster in the U.K. during World War II.

  • The memorial, with two seagulls on it.

    Rovinj, Croatia

    Partisan and Victims of Fascism Memorial

    A memorial dedicated to the 29,000 Istrian freedom fighters of World War II.

  • Here lies a rather inconspicuous memorial to the victims of persecution.

    Antwerpen, Belgium

    Heksensteen

    A curious stone in a public square commemorates the victims of witch-burning.

  • The Rakovac memorial from the knees up

    Poreč, Croatia

    Joakim Rakovac Memorial

    A monument to one of Croatia's famous freedom fighters.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.