Eugene included a graphic photo of what appeared to be a decaying corpse in one of the tunnels, which Eugene claimed was Masha's body. It's not unlikely that she drunkenly forgot to leave a trail of breadcrumbs. So it's a photo of a body that willit seemsnever be positively identified, and it immortalizes the last moment of someone's life. View all photos. And what awaits is a journey that comes so eerily close to something from the pages of Metro 2033 or the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. The group snapped a photo, in which three young boys pose with the body as if they have just identified it. [1] Parts were used as air-raid shelters during World War II. The complete length of the Odessa catacombs comes up to around astonishing 2500 km (1553.43 miles)! If it was too warm to freeze, and she was exerting herself trying to survive, dehydration would have become severe in perhaps only two days before the symptoms became debilitating. Post author: Post published: 22/06/2022 Post category: brenda payne hendersonville, tn Post comments: criminal fraternities 18th century criminal fraternities 18th century They have rescued a number of children who have wandered into the catacombs. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. [Online] Available at: https://irishurbanexplorations.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/odessa-catacombs-day-1-odessa-ukraine/, Author Unknown. Many regions (such as the notorious 'K-29' network) remain largely unexplored to this day. Odessa catacombs, Ukraine <Reply # 19 on 6/16/2009 12:10 PM > Posted by ActionSatisfaction Esq. [1] The system of Odesa Catacombs consists of a network of basements, bunkers, drainage tunnels and storm drains as well as natural caves. Submissions should outline a mystery and provide a link to a more detailed review of the case such as a Wiki article or news report. These men and women would play chess, checkers, cook, and listen to Soviet Radio, generally trying to make a normal life below the surface of the city. Odessa, just outside of Ukraine's capital, Kiev, is home to one of the largest catacombs in the entire world. The tunnels have been cited as the reason why such a subway system has never been built in Odesa. In Odessa, when someones water line suddenly breaks, or a house settles oddly, or a family pet goes missing, it is not uncommon for Ukrainians to curse about those damn catacombs., They are not being delusional, for underneath their houses run some 2,500 kilometers of catacombs, carved into the limestone that the city is built upon. The story quickly became a famous Internet legend. ", He told us he then dragged the body to the police medical examiner's office, about five miles from the entrance Masha would have used. Some sources claim that roughly five amateurs that descend into the tunnels never come out again and this really gives us an incentive to truly grasp the size of these tunnels. By signing up to the VICE newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from VICE that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. When we think of catacombs, we think of underground tunnels and chambers, locations where bodies were stored in lieu of a cemetery. Hundreds of partisans, or rebels, took to hiding in the catacombs. But despite being passed around the internet as fact, there is little documentation to support the legend of Masha. [Online] Available at: http://odesskiy.com/chisto-fakti-iz-zhizni-i-istorii/istorija-vozniknovenija-odesskih-katakomb.html, Richter, D. 2013. After the communists came to power, this man hid both himself and the golden Titanic in the catacombs below, never to be discovered. She didn't make it out alive, it's said. They could have been looking for treasures that night, considering there are rumors that somewhere below School 56 there's a solid gold replica of the Titanic a few inches long. Apr 11, 2022 - The Odessa Catacombs are the largest catacomb system in the world. Her partially mummified body was discovered two years later by amateur explorers. Especially when you consider the fact that the distance between Odessa and Paris is roughly 2138 km (1328.49 miles). After 73 days of vicious fighting, the town fell and was annexed to become a part of newly formed Transnistria Governorate under Romanian administration. The body is real though, it belonged to a man 40 to 60 years, who was killed in the catacombs. Her body had been partially mummified by the cold cool air. However, professionals can be hired at the cost of 250 hryvnia per person, depending on the time spent underground, the complexity and length of the route, the number of tourists, and options for delivery to the site entrance to the underground area. After a short time, they called off the search, saying that Masha would have to find her own way out, it wasnt safe for them to look for her any longer. Rifles, machine guns, equipment and personal items all were discovered lost or abandoned in virtually pristine condition. 2016. (Had they walked in a straight line the journey would only have been 9.5 kilometers.) When I was a teenager I was a tour guide at a local cave and at the end of the day someone had to walk to the back of the cave (45 minutes one way!) Above ground, the Fasciest Germans and Romanians would identify random catacomb exits and seal them off, hoping to trap them inside. masha odessa catacombs photokershaw oso sweet pocket clip replacementkershaw oso sweet pocket clip replacement 31 Days of Halloween: On Atlas Obscura this month, every day is Halloween. On January 1st, 2005, some Odessa teens decided to spend New Years night partying in the catacombs. The complete length of these catacombs is more than half of the width of the North American continent. They were used as a source of cheap construction materials. This makes it one of the more unique museums of that period as long as you dont strive from the beaten path! Someone died. Lets unravel the story of these vast catacombs that lie untouched beneath one of Ukraines largest towns. [Online] Available at: http://www.katakomby.odessa.ua, I am a published author of over ten historical fiction novels, and I specialize in Slavic linguistics. The people of Odessa and surrounding areas know better than to explore the catacombs. masha who died in the catacombs; employee experience software market size; June 21, 2022; by . . The eerie burnt-out remains of a prominent building where 30 protestors lost their lives. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Featured in one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history. If she was lucky, she died quickly from the cold . But being murdered and having your body dumped in the catacombs is a vacation compared to what is rumored to have happened to Masha. ( Artem Merzlenko /Adobe Stock). But one such find could not remain a secret. Despite very extensive searches neither his body, nor any clues about his fate were found. Drunk and needing to urinate, she left the group, seeking a place to relieve herself. Drinking and debauchery went on that night, and for reasons unknown a young woman named Masha got separated from her friends and disappeared into the abyss. During New Year's Eve celebrations in 2005, she and her friends had one drink too . Lata says he was there when that photo was taken, but he can't retrace the photo to its origin. Odessas catacombs quickly became the preferred hideout of rebels, criminals, and eccentrics. But the most important inhabitants of these labyrinths were the Soviet partisans. It was a foggy night with temperatures hovering around freezing. (To get a sense of how much tunnel system that really is, it is only 2138 kilometers from Odessa to Paris.). But without knowing the mind boggling extent of these catacombs, their efforts proved largely fruitless. It is in these catacombs that we get the legend of Masha, who ventured inside and got lost. They didnt go inside, heeding the warnings their parents had given them. The citizens believe that he still haunts these labyrinthine tunnels. Excursions to Odesa catacombs", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Odesa_catacombs&oldid=1142761690, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 06:27. While you may have never heard of the Odessa catacombs, they are filled with legends and dark tales that you'll never forget. The most famous photoone that Lata told VICE in an email that he was involved in takingshows three blank-faced boys who look like they're in their early teens, posing like they've just stumbled upon the body in a narrow, curved section of the cavern. Catacombs below Odessa, Ukraine. Another urban legend, far more popular, is the story of the lost treasure. Even if they managed to find an entrance that was accessible, they were not to venture inside. Over the years, urban explorers have traveled to Odessa to explore the catacombs, despite only a small portion of them being open to the public. Top Image: Old Odessa Catacombs Source: onyx124 / Adobe Stock, Author Unknown. They became a hiding place for Soviet partisans. [citation needed], The group of friends, he wrote, had all stayed there overnight, then left the next morning, but abandoned Masha, either accidentally or on purpose, and she was unable to find her way out. What started as an ancient Greek colony, in time turned into a metropolis a crucial seaport and an economic hub. The dramatic story of the origins of humanity in Greek mythology involves love, pain, and a hefty dose of What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Even though they never managed to explore the tunnels fully, the maps that these urban explorers managed to create are simply on the verge of being impossible. But when cause of death was found, they identified him as someone who had been murdered. Every story is true, and each one is a real place you can visit. One of the teens was a girl named Masha, and she was simply going with the rest of her crew to have a good time. Some objects are especially prized because the story about them is so precious. The largest catacomb system in the world. There is little to no record of a girl named Masha ever disappearing into the catacombs, and there are those that refute Lata'saccounts. For those interested in exploring the catacombs, with less risk, you can hire a professional to take you down. Many of the partisan groups lived in the catacombs for the entirety of the rest of the war, and on occasion the partisan groups even managed to blow up German facilities. One of their group, a teenage girl named Masha, got separated from the rest. And the size is further reflected in the fact that the entirety of the catacombs has never been explored. There also would have been nowhere to stay warm, since that area is also not deep enough for it to have been much warmer than the chilly surface weather that night. The Catacombs are on three levels and reach a depth of 60 metres (200ft) below sea level. The post featured a graphic photo of what appeared to be a decaying corpse in the catacombs, which Lata claimed was Masha's body. With his heart set on a possible reward, Pugovkin says he crawled into the depths and eventually stumbled upon what he called "bone soup." No doubt, many bodies remain hidden in the mines. By the age of 10, most children in the United States have been taught all 50 states that make up the country. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. It was meant as a sort of warning for others to stay away, but it also lured urban explorers to the site with growing regularity. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Aside from the TV episode which aired the segment (which you can find on YouTube), I've been unable to locate the supposed full video, nor can I find any footage of the video which wasn't taken from that TV show. Some sections regularly flood with groundwater, others have ceilings precariously propped up with ad-hoc support beams, or they've had their ventilation systems completely dismantled. Bedroom of a Partisan living in the tunnels. It's always good to hear from a local. 2017. They go on multi-day underground treks, known as expeditions, to document and map the system.