- The world's first floating nuclear plant, a Russian vessel called Akademik Lomonosov, arrived at its final destination on September 14.
- After about a decade of construction, the plant traveled 3,100 miles across the Arctic Ocean to a remote area in northern Russia.
- It will soon provide enough electricity for around 100,000 homes.
- Environmentalists have criticized the concept of nuclear plants at sea, arguing that they could be difficult for emergency-response teams to reach if an accident were to occur.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more.
As the Akademik Lomonosov sailed across the Arctic Ocean toward a remote region of Russia earlier this month, its freshly-painted exterior bore the signature red, white, and blue colors of the nation's flag.
The vessel is the world's first floating nuclear power plant, complete with two loaded nuclear reactors. It reached the port of Pevek, an Arctic town across from Alaska, on September 14. From there, it will start generating enough electricity for an estimated 100,000 homes.
The plant could spur other nations to acquire floating nuclear power plants of their own, but environmentalists worry about the safety of such facilities. Under extreme circumstances, some activists have said, an environmental disaster such as a tsunami could trigger a nuclear explosion at sea.
Nuclear experts at the environmental nonprofit Greenpeace have dubbed the floating plant "Chernobyl on ice," a reference to the 1986 nuclear disaster that led to widespread contamination across Europe.
Take a look at how the world's first floating nuclear power plant came to life.