As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. Atlas Obscura. A glass that you drop but it doesnt break. Makeshift rooms, quarters, tables, and all manner of carvings and writings are all preserved and the entire museum serves as a strikingly unaltered glimpse into the urban warfare of the second world war. The catacombs were once the preferred hideout of rebels, criminals, and eccentrics. 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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. In the end, she might have crawled. But he [Pugovkin] claims that when Armand Stendzenieks ordered a DNA test, it wasn't a match. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. This was enough to drive a group of explorers to the area in search of the supposed corpse, and it appeared they actually found it. [citation needed], In 1961 the "Search" (Poisk) club was created in order to explore the history of partisan movement among the catacombs. Masha always struck me as an urban legend. All rights reserved. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. One popular myth is the story of the White Hunter a catacomb explorer of some notoriety who apparently never came out and most likely died while in the catacombs. Excavation of the Maltese Catacombs of St. Agatha Revealed Some of the Finest 12th and 15th century Frescos in Europe! There's also evidence that they were used for the summary executions of Nazi soldiers. Places such as Aokigahara Forest. On a more historical basis, it is also believed that the catacombs were used to murder and store Jewish people during World War II. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Were heading underground to find out whether the tunnels are truly empty. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Mind boggling isnt it? I saw this video and did some research on it, ultimately deeming it to be a hoax. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. The trek lasted 27-hours, and covered about 25 miles (40 kilometers). Last month, a guy in his 20s was sentenced for reportedly murdering his teenage girlfriend in the catacombs with an ax. She made the decision to venture down into the mine for privacy sake. [Online] Available at: http://www.the13thfloor.tv/2017/04/11/183661/, Pronin, K. . See. They're not the safest places to be either. Several attempts at thorough exploration were made over the years. A wrong turn can mean death in these tunnels and every step might reveal some unseen horror. The earliest of the graffiti dates to the 18th century. Today, there are dozens of semi-professional catacomb explorer groups that venture into the Odessa catacombs. Girl Lost in Odessa Catacombs 694,277 views Jun 2, 2016 15K Dislike Share ScareTheater 963K subscribers Previous Video: http://bit.ly/1ZhkLEh In 2005, the body of a girl named Masha was found. In hopes to counter the threat of the partisans, Romanian Axis troops attempted to seal several tunnel exits, as well as tossing poison gas into the tunnels. It is in these catacombs that we get the legend of Masha, who ventured inside and got lost. . Many of the tunnels have been filled, either with earth or concrete, however the majority remain open and unmapped. Fake? https://irishurbanexplorations.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/odessa-catacombs-day-1-odessa-ukraine/, https://thinkofthetriangle.wordpress.com/2016/09/25/adventures-in-ukraine-odessa-catacombs/, http://www.the13thfloor.tv/2017/04/11/183661/, http://odesskiy.com/chisto-fakti-iz-zhizni-i-istorii/istorija-vozniknovenija-odesskih-katakomb.html, http://www.thebohemianblog.com/2013/10/urban-exploration-odessa-catacombs_20.html, https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mind-boggling-catacomb-maps, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/odessa-catacombs, https://greentourua.com/the-lost-world-of-odessa-catacombs/, The Tiara of Saitaphernes: Wow Antique? richard guichelaar update. Another urban legend, far more popular, is the story of the lost treasure. In 2005, a group of urban explorers discovered the body of a dead woman named Masha who had disappeared . 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. After the Soviets were forced out of the city, dozens of soviet-organized Ukrainian rebel groups remained, hiding below the city. dinnington high school alumni. She couldn't have lasted more than a week. Fine Art? The Odesa Catacombs are a labyrinth-like network of tunnels (subterranean cavities) located under the city of Odesa and its outskirts in Ukraine, that are mostly (over 90%) the result of stone mining, particularly coquina. In 2009, a post was made on the urban exploration website UER which first brought forth Masha's story, and a photo of the purported body (warning: graphic) was posted in which three (possibly four) young urban explorers appear to have discovered her remains. Part of the tunnels, only under the city, were turned into bomb shelters in the Cold War. No way that picture was faked. Offer subject to change without notice. Her story has that odd mix of too much detail and yet nothing verifiable that just screams urban legend. The very old skeleton of a partisan or smuggler. -, Press J to jump to the feed. But being murdered and having your body dumped in the catacombs is a vacation compared to what is rumored to have happened to Masha. But some places just arent meant to be explored. It would be extremely dangerous to try and explore the catacombs on ones own. But we do know that the confirmed tales of the catacombs, as well as its history, are still filled with gloom, death, and horror. Over the years there have been numerous reports of people venturing into the catacombs, getting lost, and eventually dying of dehydration never to be seen again. Masha had traveled several miles into the catacombs. 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. Eventually the majority of the group managed to find their way back out but Masha never did. There are even tales of Nazi executionsand cultists, not to mention a ghost story or two; however, the most famous of thecatacomb legends is probably that of agirl named Masha, who went into the maze of passagesand wasn't found until years later. The group supposedly went to the police, but they were still reluctant to go in to retrieve the body because it was literally miles from the entrance. Drunk and needing to urinate, she left the group, seeking a place to relieve herself. The only Ukrainians who have any official business down there are workers in active mines who still dig for limestone. Fine Art? Padlocks cover this rickety footbridge with love. The mystery person was of no value at all, Pugovkin says. The tunnels have been cited as the reason why such a subway system has never been built in Odesa. By that point the body was mostly a skeleton, so there were not many more details. 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. Part of the catacomb network, Odessa, Ukraine . What followed for Masha was a three day trek from hell. Belief in malevolent spirits inhabiting the human body has persisted across cultures for millennia. Old Odessa catacombs . "There were four of us on the day when these pics were taken," he wrote, "and I really don't know where I can find these guys nowadays." I'm not sure I believe the photo is fake. The approximate topography of the Odesa underground labyrinth is unknown as the catacombs have not been fully mapped. In WWII, Soviet partisans hid in the Odessa Catacombs, which stretch for thousands of miles below the city. No doubt, many bodies remain hidden in the mines. Odessa, just outside of Ukraine's capital, Kiev, is home to one of the largest catacombs in the entire world. But some tourism still relates to them. The next day, Mashas friends went to her house to see how she was doing. The photo proves that Hell is a real place, and it's about nine stories beneath Odessa. The group had to come clean. She had no food and no water, and the catacombs were freezing cold and dry. Parts of the mines are still active, but the majority of the tunnels remain closed to the public. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. The remains of more than 1,000 people lie deep under the modern town of Rabat. Built in the Soviet era, this cableway system still runs gondolas from Odessa down to Otrada Beach. Maybe her path forked a few times, and she lost track of the pattern. 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. An entrance to the Odessa catacombs is located at 4632'33.8N 3038'06.0E. Numerous reports exist of partially mummified human remains and skeletons that have been found inside the catacombs. [Online] Available at: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/odessa-catacombs, Unknown. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. What are you a professional corpsologist? Her partially mummified body was discovered two years later by amateur explorers. Some time later, when the group was ready to call it a night and head home, they noticed Masha was missing. Shiver. We dare you. But even with a light and a map of the catacombs, it would have been hard for someone ill-prepared to make it out, because the maps that exist are a maddening, brain-like scrawl. But some like to say that the earliest form of the catacombs dates to centuries before that, to 1600s or possibly before and thats plausible. Some proof for the long existence of this myth are the countless graffiti ships that can be spotted in the tunnels. As fun as it is to explore catacombs, some people prefer to stay above ground and explore. Odessa catacombs, Ukraine <Reply # 19 on 6/16/2009 12:10 PM > Posted by ActionSatisfaction Esq. Eager to escape, she ran through the tunnels, not knowing she was heading the wrong direction. Such tours are not officially sanctioned[4] because the catacombs have not been fully mapped and the tunnels themselves are unsafe. Do you have any more information about the body that was found? vegan options at biltmore estate. [7], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}463248N 303750E / 46.54667N 30.63056E / 46.54667; 30.63056, "People Believe a Girl Died in the Endless Odessa Catacombs, but the Mystery Goes Much Deeper", "Dark secrets of Odessa's vast catacomb labyrinth", "Subterranea of Ukraine: Odessa Catacombs", "The Enduring Legend of the Girl Who Died in Odessa's Catacombs", "The Odesa catacombs. Just beware, even professionals can get lost. ( Volodymyr Khodaryev /Adobe Stock). The people of Odessa and surrounding areas know better than to explore the catacombs. 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. Of course parents saying not to do something usually encourages kids to do that very thing. A massive search effort was launched but they werent able to find her among the 2,500 kilometers of often unmapped tunnels. Stop by the blog every day this month for true tales of the unquiet dead. However, a 2015 Vice Article alleges that Masha's story may be some kind of hoax, claiming that, according to the official Odessa Catacombs website, the whole story of Masha is a lie. Masha and a group of friends thought it would be fun to go out, party, and celebrate at the Stone Mines. Any chamber used as a burial place is a catacomb, although the word is most commonly associated with the Roman Empire. When we think of catacombs, we think of underground tunnels and chambers, locations where bodies were stored in lieu of a cemetery. What you may not know, is that the largest catacomb system in the world is the Odessa Catacombs in Ukraine. These catacombs are the result of stone mining, particularly coquina (a soft limestone of broken shells), and consist of a network of basements, bunkers, drainage tunnels and storm drains. [citation needed], During World War II the catacombs served as a hiding place for Soviet partisans, in particular the squad of Vladimir Molodtsov. 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. [Online] Available at: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mind-boggling-catacomb-maps, Thuras, D. Odessa Catacombs. Here they lived slept, cooked, organized raids, and fought. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. Even after the "Masha," episode, Lata continued to explore the catacombs. Shortly after this the mapping of a huge unexplored area of the catacombs known as K-29 was begun. There's an image that you may been seen that's been going around for several years. Najwitszej Maryi Panny Krlowej Polski > Bez kategorii > masha who died in the catacombs 11 czerwca 2022 hillsville, va labor day flea market 2021 natural disasters after 2010 There is, however, a portion of the catacombs that is open to the public within the Museum of Partisan Glory in Nerubayskoye, north of Odessa. Authorities have also suggested that the photo is a prank, and that the corpse is a fake. There is little to no record of a girl named Masha ever disappearing into the catacombs, and there are those that refute Lata'saccounts. In the case of the Odessa Catacombs, they are a labyrinth-like network of tunnels under the city of Odessa. masha odessa catacombs photokershaw oso sweet pocket clip replacementkershaw oso sweet pocket clip replacement The sticking point of this famous story is that no one is sure if it really happened. Did Masha really exist and meet her fate in the catacombs, or is the whole story just someone's idea of a morbid practical joke? It doesn't seem too unbelievable to me that a group of kids exploring where they're not supposed be might not report a long -dead body. Every story is true, and each one is a real place you can visit. Instead, he claims they were looking for the body of Janis Stendzenieks, the son of a local newspaper magnate. TheOdessa catacomb death legend has been supported by witnesses, as well as photos and even a few news articles, but there's not much as far as hard facts go. Shortly after this, the mapping of a large unexplored area known as K-29 began. The Odesa Catacombs are a labyrinth-like network of tunnels located under the city of Odesa and its outskirts in Ukraine, that are mostly the result of stone mining, particularly coquina. What's worse is that it's believed she walked away from the entrance, farther underground, so that the temperatures dropped even lower. With over 1,000 known entrances, exploration is exceptionally dangerous. It`s a dead body of the 19-years old girl, who has lost the right way in the maze. But Masha had not gone home. Pugovkin told us the elder Stendzenieks was offering a reward to anyone who could find his son, and some people he called "diggers"manual laborershad tipped off the authorities about a body two to three miles from an entrance to the catacombs. In 1961, the Search (Poisk) club was created, headed by Constantine Pronin of the Paleontological Museum of OSU, and became the first official catacomb exploration unit, meant to explore the catacombs and help document the history of the partisan movement. About four months after New Years in April of 2005, word spread among cave explorers that there was a fresh body down there, Lata wrote in a his UER post in 2009. The unsettling story of Masha, the lost girl of the Odessa Catacombs Masha was a student visiting Odessa that went drinking on New Years Eve in 2005. Masha had no food, no drink, and no phone service. The Odessa catacombs, even though slightly taboo and extremely eerie, are not illegal to visit . Though Masha wasnt particularly interested in going to the mine, she went anyway, wanting to be with her friends more. 31 Days of Halloween: On Atlas Obscura this month, every day is Halloween. If she'd wandered into isolation, maybe to find a secluded spot to relieve herself, it's easy to imagine she was beyond screaming distance. Instead, it belonged to a girl who was never identified. Situated in the very south of Ukraine, nestled at the shores of the Black Sea , Odessa is the sprawling and third most populous town in the country. She lies on her left side, legs curled like she's sleeping, while the upper half of her decomposing body has lost its form. Apr 11, 2022 - The Odessa Catacombs are the largest catacomb system in the world. (To get a sense of how much tunnel system that really is, it is only 2138 kilometers from Odessa to Paris.). Nefer Say Nefer - Was Nefertiti Buried in the Valley of the Queens? The next-largest network of catacombs is in Paris, and that's only one-fifth the length of Odessa's. She was headed .