Virtual Tour of Final Repository for Radioactive Waste Morlsleben (ERAM)

Morsleben, a small village a few kilometres east of Helmstedt on the B1 main road, has made waste disposal history. Here, close to the former border between Eastern and Western Germany, the Nuclear Waste Repository Morsleben (ERAM) of the former German Democratic Republic was built. The ERAM was worldwide the first final repository for low and medium level radioactive waste in a deep geological formation to receive a permanent operating license. Final disposal was ceased on September 25, 1998. During a visit to the site you can find out how a former salt mine was used as a final repository for radioactive waste and you can get information on the methods used for waste disposal and the planned repository closure.

The virtual tour provides a realistic impression of what you would see during a personal visit.

After receiving a detailed introduction and safety instructions you will enter the mine site with its surface installations and reach the multipurpose building via the container hall. Here, you will find the changing rooms as well as the areas for donning the necessary special equipment. You will receive an overall, underwear, workers' protective shoes, safety helmet and a self-contained self rescuer for your safety, as well as a miner's lamp and a dosimeter. Equipped with this gear, you will board the cage of the personnel hoisting system.
With a velocity of 6 meters per second you will go down into the mine and after two minutes you will reach the loading station of the fourth level at a depth of 506 m. Here, you will enter into a radiation monitoring area, as - contrary to the exploration mine Gorleben and the planned repository Konrad - radioactive waste has already been disposed of in Morsleben. In this area, the temperature is about 20 degrees Centigrade, irrespective of the time of year. This well-illuminated underground area has a warm and pleasant atmosphere.
A mouse click will take you to the mechanics workshop. Here, all maintenance and service work necessary for the underground machines can be carried out. Ahead, you will go into the direction of the Southern Field, to Chamber 1

Have fun and enjoy your discoveries during your virtual tour of the ERAM.  

Glück auf!