Today we travel to the city of Odessa, in Ukraine, on the shores of the Black Sea, There is a fascinating underground world, that of the largest system of galleries or catacombs on the planet. About 2.500 kilometers (its true length is not known with certainty) of tunnels dug in the limestone. If these tunnels formed a straight line from the city to the west, they would reach Spain!
Their age is also unknown, although it is known that when they began to truly grow in this amazing and labyrinthine way it was during the XNUMXth century, when large blocks of stone were massively extracted from the quarries of the city to build buildings.
The catacombs of Odessa became haven for rebels, criminals and eccentrics. During World War II when the Soviets had been forced out of the city, they left dozens of armed groups hidden under the ground of the city, taken over by the invaders. East underground army he was dedicated to sabotaging and spying on the Nazis leading an unhealthy and dangerous life. After the war the catacombs became the home of smugglers.
Today the works of «Urban caving» destined to one day explore and make a real map of these catacombs. There are tunnels and sections that have not yet been visited, while every year a new one is discovered, a hidden arms depot or a secret passageway. Also every year groups of amateur explorers are lost in the dark bowels of the city.
Visiting the Odessa Catacombs is not illegal, although only a small part of them is officially open to the public. The excursions are always carried out under the supervision of an expert guide With which you have to negotiate the price, depending on the number of tourists and the duration of the excursion.
More information - Odessa, the pearl of the Black Sea
Images: excursionopedia.com