It is one of the world's largest urban labyrinths, running up to 2,500 kilometres (1,600mi). Beneath the city of Odessa, and also its outskirts, lie a labyrinth-like network of tunnels, known as the Odessa Catacombs. The Bohemian Blog. But that has not stopped outsiders, or even local, daring, teenagers who are curious about, or even set on finding, the legendary treasures they contain. One of the reasons the catacombs of Odessa stand out is because they are by far the worlds longest catacombs. Two years passed, and no one retrieved the body, Lata claims. Some time later, when the group was ready to call it a night and head home, they noticed Masha was missing. To put things into perspective: the Roman tunnels are about 170 km (105.63 miles) long, and the Paris ones about 300 km (186.41 miles). Local here (finally, after years of reading, something got me to register). They were used as a source of cheap construction materials. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Another urban legend, far more popular, is the story of the lost treasure. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. But some places just arent meant to be explored. [1] The system of Odesa Catacombs consists of a network of basements, bunkers, drainage tunnels and storm drains as well as natural caves. I'm not sure I believe the photo is fake. Come for the severed heads, stay for the book bound in human skin. Those daring few that decide to explore the endless depths below Odessa are often surprised by a gruesome find. The ancient Greeks were no different. masha who died in the catacombs. These men and women remained hidden, living in the catacombs. This goes to show that the Odessa catacombs can be very grim. He quarreled with the teen, then led her into the catacombs where they could continue their argument. A massive search effort was launched but they werent able to find her among the 2,500 kilometers of often unmapped tunnels. But one Ukrainian town stands out Odessa. Think of the Triangle. Shortly after this the mapping of a huge unexplored area of the catacombs known as K-29 was begun. The catacombs once served as the preferred hideout for rebels, criminals, and during World War II, air-raid shelters. Odessas Mindbending Catacomb Maps. In 2005, after a couple of drinks, a group of enthusiastic Odessa teens decided to continue their party down in the catacombs. Eventually the majority of the group managed to find their way back out but Masha never did. She couldn't have lasted more than a week. 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The body is real though, it belonged to a man 40 to 60 years, who was killed in the catacombs. Once the war was over, the catacombs became home to numerous smuggling and criminal groups, who widened and created new tunnel systems of their own. They cooked, played games, and listened to the radio With the Nazis above ground, they looked for any opportunity relay intelligence, or strike their enemy. In the case of the Odessa Catacombs, they are a labyrinth-like network of tunnels under the city of Odessa. Amid yellow limestone walls and floors, young explorers found a body that was partially mummified by the cold dry air. But some tourism still relates to them. But despite being passed around the internet as fact, there is little documentation to support the legend of Masha. Lata says he was there when that photo was taken, but he can't retrace the photo to its origin. Maybe her path forked a few times, and she lost track of the pattern. Even if they managed to find an entrance that was accessible, they were not to venture inside. She was headed into the Odessa catacombs, the 2,500 kilometers of dark rocky tunnels which run underneath the city. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. By that point the body was mostly a skeleton, so there were not many more details. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. Kostya Pugovkin, who identified himself as a veteran of Ukraine's Antiterrorist Operation based in Odessa, claims to be the one who personally hefted the body in that photograph out of the depths. The official Odesa Catacombs website, however, calls the story a hoax. When we think of catacombs, we think of underground tunnels and chambers, locations where bodies were stored in lieu of a cemetery. The group ventured deep inside and soon enough they got lost. However, it's not te only creepy story - in 2012 group of students went below and one was lost. ( Valentin Balan /Adobe Stock). In the case of the Odessa Catacombs, they are a labyrinth-like network of tunnels under the city of Odessa. Even after the "Masha," episode, Lata continued to explore the catacombs. The Lost World of Odessa Catacombs. Underrated Cinematic Survival Competitions, Great Movies About Missions Doomed from the Start, Survival Myths to Unlearn Before It's Too Late, Must-See Newer Survival Movies and TV Series, Great Movies About Kids Trying to Stay Alive, People Believe A Girl Died In The Endless Odessa Catacombs, But The Mystery Goes Much Deeper, the group had continued to explore the catacombs, a man was sentenced to 13 years in prison for killing a girl in the catacombs. ", Personally, I find this story absolutely terrifying; the thought of stumbling around lost in 2,500KM of tunnels with no lights and eventually dying alone is a kind of terror I hope to never experience. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. Masha went out with a large group of friends to celebrate and probably get drunk. [4] In his work The Waves of The Black Sea, Valentin Kataev described the battle between Soviet partisans against Axis forces, underneath Odesa and its nearby suburb Usatove. 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But centuries ago, the land that is now the United States was a very different place As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Despite very extensive searches neither his body, nor any clues about his fate were found. Go to the left, go to the right, Youll only meet the darkness of the night, Another poem tells of the loneliness inside the tunnels: Sing not, oh nightingale, against my cell, and dont interrupt my prayer, oh, nightingale.. No way that picture was faked. The next day, Mashas friends went to her house to see how she was doing. I mean it's Vice. You'd think they'd have them boarded or locked up pretty tight to avoid homeless people getting lost down there. Based on what was later found, it is believed that Masha stumbled around in the catacombs for at least three days, starving, thirsty, alone, and in the dark. All rights reserved. The whole story of Masha might actually just be an urban legend. [Online] Available at: https://irishurbanexplorations.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/odessa-catacombs-day-1-odessa-ukraine/, Author Unknown. All of these items are housed in a section of the tunnels which were used by the partisans. [5], Only one small portion of the catacombs is open to the public, within the "Museum of Partisan Glory" in Nerubayskoye, north of Odesa. Unfortunately, what they often find inside is far more grim than that. She made the decision to venture down into the mine for privacy sake. ( Artem Merzlenko /Adobe Stock). Partisan weapon caches such as rifles and grenades are occasionally still found within the tunnels, and about once every five years a body is found. vegan options at biltmore estate. Eager to escape, she ran through the tunnels, not knowing she was heading the wrong direction. During WWII Ukrainian rebel groups hid within the labyrinthine catacombs and today there is an entire Ukrainian subculture of catacomb explorers with dozens of semiprofessional groups, often quite competitive, exploring the catacombs.