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Though Masha wasnt particularly interested in going to the mine, she went anyway, wanting to be with her friends more. She made the decision to venture down into the mine for privacy sake. Odessa Catacombs: Day 1 Odessa, Ukraine. [6] Other caves attract extreme tourists, who explore the tunnels despite the dangers involved. I hope it's fake - but, unless that picture was fake, someone died the nightmarish way attributed to Masha. Sad mother monument, made in stone in the Odessa catacombs . In 2005, a group of urban explorers discovered the body of a dead woman named Masha who had disappeared . Masha had no food, no drink, and no phone service. The Fascist Germans and Romanians meanwhile chose random catacomb exits and sealed them, hoping to trap the men below the city forever, and occasionally tossed poison gas canisters into the catacombs hoping to smoke the soviet rebels out. I know you said he was never identified, but was there an investigation you can share with us? Or maybe they were looking for bodies. In another instance, a little more information was brought to light: in 2015, a man was sentenced to 13 years in prison for killing a girl in the catacombs. It would be extremely dangerous to try and explore the catacombs on ones own. The approximate topography of the Odesa underground labyrinth is unknown as the catacombs have not been fully mapped. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). The catacombs also contain natural caves and span over 1,500 miles. Stories say that an ancient Roman glassmaker had the technology to create a flexible glass, vitrium flexile, but a certain emperor decided the invention should not be. 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? [1] Parts were used as air-raid shelters during World War II. A partial map of the Odessa catacombs. Places such as Aokigahara Forest. Lets unravel the story of these vast catacombs that lie untouched beneath one of Ukraines largest towns. 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. The mystery person was of no value at all, Pugovkin says. As modern urban explorers tend to do, individuals from the group who found the body decided to share their exploits online. (To get a sense of how much tunnel system that really is, it is only 2138 kilometers from Odessa to Paris.). Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. Version of this photo sourced directly from Eugene Lata. After three days in total darkness without food or water, Masha collapsed and died from dehydration. As is the nature of people, and urban explorers, tunnels and caves outside of the trusted zone serve as an exhilarating adventure. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. They decided to do this inthe Odessa catacombs, where they could have some privacy, drink, and have fun with a little added creep factor. In the end, we cannot be entirely sure if the story of Masha'sill-fated party, nor her sad demise, is accurate, and that may never change. We believe it is just a practical joke and the corpse is fake." Their goal was to explore the catacombs and document the history of the partisan movement. But despite being passed around the internet as fact, there is little documentation to support the legend of Masha. 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. Shortly after this the mapping of a huge unexplored area of the catacombs known as K-29 was begun. 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. [7], A 2015 investigation by Vice writer Mike Pearl similarly found no evidence that Masha had existed. An underground paleo-Christian burial site composed of the remains of several cemeteries and Basilicas. In the morning, they braved the morning cold to get back to hearth and home. Relics of the past in the Odessa catacombs, Ukraine. [1] The system of Odesa Catacombs consists of a network of basements, bunkers, drainage tunnels and storm drains as well as natural caves.[1]. Skeletons and mummified animal corpses , World War II weapon caches, archaic items and human corpses. 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 diggers determined it was a Satanist who got lost.". And people do definitely die in catacombs and really any underground structure, usually homeless people seekingng shelter. Today, there are dozens of semi-professional catacomb explorer groups that venture into the Odessa catacombs. No purchase necessary. And the size is further reflected in the fact that the entirety of the catacombs has never been explored. Hiding in the catacombs for as much as 13 months, literally below the noses and feet of the Nazis above, the rebels waited for a chance to strike or relay information. It was brought to a police medical examiner's office, and everyone found that, shockingly, the DNA didn't match the missing boy. "Besides the original photographer," a post says, "there isn't one person, civilian or law enforcement, that can confirm the story. Parents in the area warned their children to stay away. While going into the catacombs is not illegal, there is only one small portion of the catacombs that is officially open to the public, which can be seen at the Museum of Partisan Glory in Nerubayskoye, north of Odessa. The official Odesa Catacombs website, however, calls the story a hoax. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? The 2005 New Years eve party was great. 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. 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. Most of the diggers I talked to believed that he actually faked the whole thing and started a new life somewhere, but still look out for anything related to him below. What's worse is that it's believed she walked away from the entrance, farther underground, so that the temperatures dropped even lower. Old Catacombs Odessa, Ukraine (XVIII-XX century) . Hundreds of partisans, or rebels, took to hiding in the catacombs. Eager to escape, she ran through the tunnels, not knowing she was heading the wrong direction. One of the reasons the catacombs of Odessa stand out is because they are by far the worlds longest catacombs. Some say this was even done maliciously. Masha had died, still trying to escape. According to the investigation of the incident, the man was with a group of friends, and had been drinking with the young girl. It can be really dangerous," he wrote, adding "here are some new pictures of our catacombs. It is one of the world's largest urban labyrinths, running up to 2,500 kilometres (1,600mi). Old Odessa catacombs . An entrance to the Odessa catacombs is located at 4632'33.8N 3038'06.0E. Authorities have also suggested that the photo is a prank, and that the corpse is a fake. By some estimates, they span 1,550 miles, making the network a little longer than the whole Pacific coastline of the continuous United States. What you may not know, is that the largest catacomb system in the world is the Odessa Catacombs in Ukraine. There's an image that you may been seen that's been going around for several years. Eventually the majority of the group managed to find their way back out but Masha never did. [5], Only one small portion of the catacombs is open to the public, within the "Museum of Partisan Glory" in Nerubayskoye, north of Odesa. The story quickly became a famous Internet legend. Doesn't matter to me; the thought of being lost down there in the dark is maddening. Drunk and needing to urinate, she left the group, seeking a place to relieve herself. Odessas catacombs quickly became the preferred hideout of rebels, criminals, and eccentrics. 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. In WWII, Soviet partisans hid in the Odessa Catacombs, which stretch for thousands of miles below the city. They're not the safest places to be either. The group had to come clean. A massive search effort was launched but they werent able to find her among the 2,500 kilometers of often unmapped tunnels. [3] Many of the tunnels have been filled up with earth, concrete or sand by construction companies, and are no longer accessible. Beneath the city of Odessa, and also its outskirts, lie a labyrinth-like network of tunnels, known as the Odessa Catacombs. During New Year's Eve celebrations in 2005, she and her friends had one drink too . There was no light in the catacombs besides whatever she might have had on her, and it is believed she wandered in pitch blackness. Learn how your comment data is processed. Assuming Masha brought a battery-powered flashlight or lantern down into the depths, it would have died after a few hours, making it harder to continue the search for warmth and water. [citation needed], During World War II the catacombs served as a hiding place for Soviet partisans, in particular the squad of Vladimir Molodtsov. With tunnels that run up to 2,500 kilometers, the Odessa Catacombs are considered the world's largest urban labyrinth, significantly larger than the one in Paris, among others. But the most important inhabitants of these labyrinths were the Soviet partisans. Bedroom of a Partisan living in the tunnels. Shortly after this, the mapping of a large unexplored area known as K-29 began. They would throw in poison gas canisters, hoping to smoke them out and finish them off. Nefer Say Nefer - Was Nefertiti Buried in the Valley of the Queens? Murderer never found, the body ever identified. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. But at some point in the night Masha decided to explore the catacombs. It would be a strange, unfunnny practical joke. Irish Urban Explorations. It's not known if they were former students of Odessa's School Number 56, but according to references to the story in Russian news, that's where they found the entrance to the mines. 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. masha odessa catacombs photo. On January 1st, 2005, some Odessa teens decided to spend New Years night partying in the catacombs. [1] The system of Odesa Catacombs consists of a network of basements, bunkers, drainage tunnels and storm drains as well as natural caves. Very much like the lyrics of the famous She may be ancient Egypts most famous face, but the quest to find the eternal resting place of Queen Nefertiti has never been hotter. During WWII, although the Soviets had been forced out of the city, they left behind dozens of soviet-organized Ukrainian rebel groups hidden below the city in the expansive catacombs. Come for the severed heads, stay for the book bound in human skin. Fine Art? 31 Days of Halloween: On Atlas Obscura this month, every day is Halloween. The photo proves that Hell is a real place, and it's about nine stories beneath Odessa. As I said earlier, a lot of people lost and even . Top Image: Old Odessa Catacombs Source: onyx124 / Adobe Stock, Author Unknown. Fake? ( Artem Merzlenko /Adobe Stock). She didn't make it out alive, it's said. The catacombs are on three levels, and reach a depth of 200ft (60 meters) below sea level. Imagine a glass you can bend and then watch it return to its original form. [6], Since the beginning of the 21st century limestone mining has continued in the mines located in Dofinovka, Byldynka, and "Fomina balka" near Odesa. Every culture has an explanation about how we got here. Part of the catacomb network, Odessa, Ukraine . Atlas Obscura. 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. By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. Some time later, when the group was ready to call it a night and head home, they noticed Masha was missing. I was the only girl so usually I got out of it..but I did have to do it a few times and it was horrifyinglywhen you looked back it was total darkness! Built in the Soviet era, this cableway system still runs gondolas from Odessa down to Otrada Beach. But he claims that when Armand Stendzenieks ordered a DNA test, it wasn't a match. He recalls that a piece of writing by a friend he says is a "famous journalist" was delivered to government officials. The Soviets suffered malnutrition, and even malaria. Her body was found only after 2 years. The eerie burnt-out remains of a prominent building where 30 protestors lost their lives. But most importantly, the Odessa catacombs are an incredible testament, an entire in-situ museum of incredible proportions filled with various relics of the past. In World War II, Odessa was besieged in August of 1941 by the Axis forces. 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. masha who died in the catacombs; employee experience software market size; June 21, 2022; by . Maybe her path forked a few times, and she lost track of the pattern. [citation needed], After the Russian Revolution of 1917, stone mining was banned within the central part of Odesa (inside the Porto-Franko zone, bounded by Old Port Franko and Panteleymonovskaya streets). Maybe this photo will shock you. Detachment of Molodtsov near Odessa Catacombs. Masha story is an urban legend. Approximately 32 members were sent to the catacombs in 1941 to sabotage the Romanian allies of German Nazis who occupied Odessa during World War II, when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. (Had they walked in a straight line the journey would only have been 9.5 kilometers.) 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. However, the catacombs began to truly grow into their astonishing, labyrinthine form in the early 1800s, when the limestone quarried from them was used to build much of the city. The legend goes a little something like this: In 2005, a group of teenagers headed out on New Year's Eve (or New Year's Day, depending on the source) to have a little party. Excavation of the Maltese Catacombs of St. Agatha Revealed Some of the Finest 12th and 15th century Frescos in Europe! It`s a dead body of the 19-years old girl, who has lost the right way in the maze. In the decades after the war, the tunnels became a safe haven for smugglers and criminals and they made more tunnels. They go on multi-day underground treks, known as expeditions, to document and map the system. richard guichelaar update. kenmore west in memoriam; sabor dulce en la boca coronavirus; traditional catholic novenas Enjoy.". During the Middle Ages, exorcisms were commonplace to rid individuals of supposed demonic possession. 2017. 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. Disturbing Tales of the Mysterious Catacombs Beneath Odessa. Although the tale has long been reported as fact, even in newspapers, there is still a great lack of evidence, and few people are stepping forward to corroborate the sparse claims that to exist. In the photo, Masha is unidentifiable beyond simply being a human. Clearly, this was a bad idea. They go on expeditions into the mines that can last several days, and document and map the area. One interesting aspect of the tunnels is the fact that they are subject to a variety of highly imaginative urban legends. Instead, he claims they were looking for the body of Janis Stendzenieks, the son of a local newspaper magnate. Find Out, Dizzying Inca Rope Bridges Were Grass-Made Marvels of Engineering, For Sale In Britain: A Small Ancient Man With A Colossal Penis. Her body had been partially mummified by the cold cool air. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. But catacombs can be more than religious passageways or burial grounds. [Online] Available at: http://www.the13thfloor.tv/2017/04/11/183661/, Pronin, K. . The sheer size of the catacombs meant a refuge for all walks of life that sought to hide. 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 She quickly became separated from her party, and unable to find her way back. In September 1995, in honor of the 200th anniversary of Odessa, the record for the longest underground journey in the catacombs was broken by a 27-hour continuos journey of over 40 kilometers. There's no way any one person could ever witness the true scale of the Odessa Catacombs; explore all 2,500km of tunnel. All rights reserved. With over 1,500 miles of subterranean tunnels, Odessa's catacombs even beat out the well-known Paris Catacombs in terms of length. Catacombs below Odessa, Ukraine. Since its creation, it has expanded understanding of the catacombs, and provided information to expand mapping of the tunnels. While you may have never heard of the Odessa catacombs, they are filled with legends and dark tales that you'll never forget. Amid yellow limestone walls and floors, young explorers found a body that was partially mummified by the cold dry air. 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. All photos by Wikimedia Commons user . But even though the city fell, its citizens didnt give up the fight. [citation needed], The city has a large population of over 1 million people, which some believe would benefit from the introduction of a subway system. ( Artem Merzlenko /Adobe Stock). 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. Various message boards shared the tale, and websites began to present the details as fact. On Wikipedia, catacombs are described as man-made subterranean passageways for religious practice. Today there is an entire Ukrainian subculture of catacomb explorers with dozens of semiprofessional groups, often quite competitive, exploring the catacombs. See. The image, it's said, is of a girl who went missing in the catacombs of Odessa, Ukraine a girl, it's said, named Masha or Mashenka, who went down into the twisting tunnels beneath the city in which she lived for a party, but got lost while she was down there. The catacombs were once the preferred hideout of rebels, criminals, and eccentrics. Nov 7, 2017 Kate Bulo. [4] It is thought that most (9597%) of the catacombs are former coquina multilevel mines from which stone was extracted to construct the city above. They are so incredibly extensive that someone who dies within can simply never be found. I'm reminded of the infamous video of the guy supposedly wandering lost through the Paris catacombs - although I think I heard somewhere that was ultimately a hoax as well. The Stone Mines, part of the Odessa Catacombs, were closed and sealed off in 1917. Instead, it belonged to a girl who was never identified. Everywhere, hidden in the niches and the stone nooks, lie scribbled and faded poems, warnings and pleas. Should someone get lost in the catacombs (as happens every couple of years), these groups put aside their differences and mount large search expeditions. I tend to never believe Vice.. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there existcountless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts thathave yet to be discovered and explained. Shiver. Masha always struck me as an urban legend. It's always good to hear from a local. Ukraine. Megalithic Sites Are More than Just Stone, Library in Stone: The Ica Stones of Professor Cabrera Part I, Two Sides to Every Story: The North American Martyrs Shrines and Indigenous/ Roman Catholic Relations, The Origins of the Faeries: Encoded in our Cultures Part I, Curse of the Buried Pearl: The Hunt for Ancient Treasures Part I, The Enigma of the Shugborough Inscription, The Znojmo Catacombs: A Maze of Tunnels Where No Enemies Escaped Alive. When we think of catacombs, we think of underground tunnels and chambers, locations where bodies were stored in lieu of a cemetery. A vast country that prides itself on a history rich with heroes and artists. Today we find ourselves wandering the largest catacomb system in the world. 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? If she was lucky, she died quickly from the cold. She lies on her left side, legs curled like she's sleeping, while the upper half of her decomposing body has lost its form. He claimed that his best friend had led the expedition, and that he had been there when the infamous photo was taken. What followed for Masha was a three day trek from hell. Whether that person is an innocent partygoer, a Satanist, or a Ukrainian drunk who took a few steps too many into the darkness, it sends imaginations soaring because it conjures the exact kind of nightmarish, lonely death everyone fears the most. | Despite very extensive searches neither his body, nor any clues about his fate were found. The complete length of these catacombs is more than half of the width of the North American continent. A wrong turn can mean death in these tunnels and every step might reveal some unseen horror. If she was lucky, she died quickly from the cold . "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." 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. Especially when you consider the fact that the distance between Odessa and Paris is roughly 2138 km (1328.49 miles). Then he added that a young boy had just been lost in an accident, and his body was still missing. Many regions (such as the notorious 'K-29' network) remain largely unexplored to this day. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. All of these items are housed in a section of the tunnels which were used by the partisans. ", 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. The next-largest network of catacombs is in Paris, and that's only one-fifth the length of Odessa's. The Odessa Catacombs and the Legend of Masha, The Fiery Darvaza Gas Crater The Scare Chamber, The Torture and Murder of Kelly Anne Bates, Alexandra Wiwcharuk: The Girl in Saskatoon, Practicing Cannibalism | The Scare Chamber, Alexandra Wiwcharuk: The Girl in Saskatoon | The Scare Chamber, David Parker Ray and his Toy Box of Torture, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. What are you a professional corpsologist? An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. She couldn't have lasted more than a week. 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. The catacombs are not easy to navigate, especially when you're drunk like Masha might have been that night. The final resting place for the remains of 143 Habsburg royalty. Offer subject to change without notice. "I wrapped it in a bedsheet, and dragged it back," he told VICE through a translator. By that point the body was mostly a skeleton, so there were not many more details. It was a foggy night with temperatures hovering around freezing. The Odessa catacombs are a very complicated system of natural tunnels, mines, bunkers, and caves that are predominantly a result of mining - with the earliest excavations beginning in the 19th century. It wasnt until six months later that Masha was found. Mind boggling isnt it? Just one look at the maps will show you exactly why the Odessa catacombs were never fully explored the sheer size prevents it. The mining operations would soon spiral almost out of control, causing some issues for the town itself, until they would be temporarily banned after 1917. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. 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? Come for the severed heads, stay for the book bound in human skin. Beneath the city of Odessa in the Ukraine lies a 2,500KM (approx 1,550mi) labyrinthine maze of tunnels, a little longer than the entire Pacific coastline of the continuous United States (map of the catacombs). 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. Were heading underground to find out whether the tunnels are truly empty. And as one treads these tunnels which were never graced by the light of day, one can easily see that the horrors from the pages of novels such as Metro 2033, or from some iconic Lovecraftian horror, are firmly and terrifyingly rooted in reality. Oddly, Lata told us the person responsible for the official Catacombs websiteand the one calling him a liaris "one of the most experienced Odessa catacombs explorers and my best friend."