Odessa catacombs in Ukraine

For the most part (95-97%), Odessa catacombs are underground quarries, where building stone was quarried - limestone used for construction of the city. Also, the system includes a cavity catacombs of natural origin - karst caves and dilatancy, exploration and construction pits, cellars, bunkers, tunnels, drains, storm sewers and other underground cavities.
The first underground quarry began appeared in the first half of the XIX century, during the rapid construction of Odessa as a source of inexpensive building materials - limestone (a more correct title - "Pontian limestone"). Stone extraction was carried out using saws, and was so intense that in the second half of the XIX century, a vast network of underground caves became uncomfortable for the city. In the post-revolutionary years in connection with the subsidence and collapse of buildings was declared a ban on quarrying in the city (within the boundaries of streets Staroportofrankovskaya - Novorybnaya).
During the Great Patriotic War, the Odessa catacombs in Ukraine served as a shelter for Soviet partisans - in particular, the order Molodtsova VA. The writer Valentin Kataev described in detail in his book "Waves of the Black Sea" the fight of the Soviet partisans in the catacombs beneath Odessa and Usatove against the Nazi invaders.
Information is available on 1.7 thousand kilometers of underground cavities.
In 1961, for the history of the partisan movement was created a special hobby club "Search", which over the years greatly expanded the boundaries of mapped areas of the catacombs.
At the beginning of the XXI century limestone mining continues in the mines, located in Dofinovke, Buldynke, St. Thomas beam. Thus the length of the Odessa catacombs increases up to this day.

About this mysterious sight of Odessa goes mass of rumors, legends and fables. Odessa catacombs - is a unique phenomenon, the result of not only man but nature itself. The catacombs - is an entire underground city, its length is about 2500 kilometers, of which examined is a little more than half.
The first artificial - man-made caves and tunnels, were near Odessa, when this city was called Hadzhibey, founded in the XIV century. Even the Turks began mining limestone (Pontian limestone) - which is one of the most popular building materials. In the XIX century, when there was active development of the city, stone quarries near Odessa began to develop spontaneously, then, in different periods, mining limestone suspended and reopened several times. And today in different parts of the catacombs, which are far from the city limits, are mined limestone, and within the Odessa was finally banned, as the ground under the old part of town began to sink, begin to crumble old mansions and falls to the ground people.
About 95% of the catacombs - are former quarry, with the rest of the underground sights of Odessa as the bunkers, cellars (also called "mines" the cave under the mansion), dilatancy and limestone caves, where you can see the beautiful sight of the bizarre formations of cave rocks, stalactites and stalactites, sparkling crystals. The beauty of the natural caves, which are adjacent to the manmade labyrinth, affects anyone who has a chance to see it with my own eyes.
All Odessa is penetrated deep into the earth receding moves, invisible to the unknowing people about them. The entrances to the catacombs are in almost every old mansion (Vorontsov Palace, the palace-mansion-Potocki Naryshkins), when combined, they form a huge maze way out of which can only find a knowledgeable person.

Since the beginning of World War II Catacombs are of great significance for the city, because thousands of residents of the city and suburbs were forced to hide in them from bombing and shelling during the 73 days, from August 5, 1941 to October 16, 1941 - during the heroic defense of Odessa . During the Nazi occupation of Ukraine in the Odessa area operated 13 guerrilla groups. And the first of these guerrilla groups, commanded by VO Fellows-Badan, was stationed in the catacombs of the village Nerubayskogo, a suburb of Odessa. First, the squad includes 64 men and 5 women. In addition to the squad were children who had served as intelligence (Yasha Gordienko).
Before the guerrillas entered the catacombs, the group previously established organizational equipped in their base camp with supplies of food, fuel - for lighting and cooking, which is prepared mostly on primus stoves and kerosene. Had stockpiled explosives, ammunition, weapons and everything you need for life and battle.
With the help of experienced masons was chosen place for the home squad at a distance of 3-4 km from the entrance to the mine first. Approaches that led to the camp, were barricaded. Minor moves laid tightly and mined.
The camp was built in kitchen, dining room, sleeping room, staff room, bathroom, utility room, barns and workshops. All of them were equipped to face and linked drifts.
In accordance with the name of the detachment, and though he called "subversive and intelligence", it was divided into two parts. Half the squad was based in the catacombs, the other half, divided into three groups, placed in the safe house. They were scouts - "eyes and ears of the detachment." They collected an important military information and introduced the agents to the Nazi authorities.
During his stay in the catacombs of the majority of the guerrillas had not seen not only sun, but also ordinary daylight, since the military operations they came out only at night, when all around is dark, and during the day were in the catacombs, which are always dark.
Publicized guerrilla LRAs than necessary: lanterns such as "bat", oil lamps, lamps made from shell casings, torches ....

The catacombs have always been notorious. At all times, Odessa catacombs served as a haven for criminals, gangsters and the homeless. In view of the relatively easy availability of ubiquitous O Odessa quarry at different times sheltered religious sects, bandit gangs, military deserters. Man hiding in the catacombs are usually not found. He usually went from persecution, often leaving forever. Detected only traces of the inhabitants of the quarry scraps of clothing, human remains, sometimes graffiti or drawings.
But remember the heroes and the catacombs of the city and country. During the Second World War in the catacombs was a partisan detachment. The fate of many underground and guerrilla groups usually ended sadly.
Currently, Odessa catacombs are open for tours. Excursions into the catacombs usually last a few hours. As with. Nerubayskoe a museum of Partisan Glory. Odessa catacombs - is one of the most famous sights of Odessa and the Ukraine. During the tour can be found in Nerubayskoe history of the Odessa catacombs, interesting stories, the history of guerrilla movements, down to the catacombs themselves and spend, in total darkness for a while. And now, future generations will be telling stories of lost tourists, and to demonstrate someone's skeletons and full of despair graffiti loser.
Here and entertaining stories are born and legends scary dungeon.
Nerubayskoe. Museum of Partisan Glory. How to get in Nerubayskoe? How to get into the catacombs?
From the bus station in Odessa bus # 84, 87 to the village Nerubayskoe.

Excursion to Odessa catacombs became the most exciting, but at the same time the most enjoyable and memorable (in a good sense of the word) experience for many residents and visitors alike. Together with experienced cavers can go to a safe journey on a different but no less amazing Odessa. Planning vacation in Odessa, take a tour of the most extended cave in the world, because of the catacombs, equal in size Odessa, simply does not exist! Interestingly, the length of the famous Paris catacombs - only 300 miles, but the Roman catacombs far from Odessa, because their length of only 800 km.
From Odessa catacombs associated mass legends and rumors. Many treasure hunters go into the catacombs to find the rumored hidden here mock the "Titanic" made of pure gold, and the romantic legend that the tomb is located near Odessa, where buried love, committed suicide because of the impossibility of being together in life. Known story that, in this tomb, the entrance to which was opened after the landslide, accidentally hit one of the cavers, tells us that it something very frightened and grayer, and the entrance to the crypt was closed again after another landslide. By modern legends associated with the Odessa catacombs, include rumors that numerous tunnels under the city there is a subway, and about living here catacombniks - underground yeti.
Which of these rumors, and that - though not always able to answer even the researchers underground Odessa, Odessa catacombs kartografiruyuschie. This place keeps a lot of secrets and mysteries, enticing treasure hunters and adventure, those interested in history and sights of Odessa or just want to make a trip to one of the most interesting places in the world.