there are some claims that the Zone was inspired by the Japanese fortifications (deep underground, booby-trapped, etc. The largest fortress of them -  <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=LqIbImIWIRI" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=LqIbImIWIRI</a> (6000 sq. km, stationed 100K soldiers)) in Manchuria where the older brother served soon after the WWII. Great writers, they distilled this image of &quot;Zone&quot; which as result can be successfully applied to Chernobyl and to whatever comes in the future.