[mirimir]

TFA does note:

> Born of human error, continually generating copious heat, the Elephant’s Foot is still melting into the base of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. If it hits ground water, it could trigger another catastrophic explosion or leach radioactive material into the water nearby residents drink.

I had never heard that it was "still melting into the base of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant". Given that it's only 10% as radioactive as it was initially, that seems unlikely.

[stephen_g]

This article (from 2016, three years later than TFA) says it’s estimated to be ‘slightly higher than the ambient temperature’ - https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-famous-photo-of-ch...

While it reaching groundwater was definitely a concern in the 80’s, I don’t think it’s actually moved significantly or is expected to in the future.

[mirimir]

Thanks. That's more or less what I expected.

"China Syndrome" was an influential film. But until Fukushima, I don't believe that we saw melted core "lava" reach groundwater.