A series of images from the USGS Landsat archive shows the evolution of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The 1975 image (left) shows some construction and the early development of the plantâ€™s cooling pond. The 1986 image (middle) was acquired three days after a reactor had a massive accident and was destroyed. The agricultural fields shown in the 1975 and 1986 images were abandoned and left untended as the surrounding region was evacuated. The 2011 image (right) reveals that all of the fields have reverted to grassland.