Nor were her friends able to locate her. The Soviets suffered malnutrition, and even malaria. With over 1,500 miles of subterranean tunnels, Odessa's catacombs even beat out the well-known Paris Catacombs in terms of length. Masha went out with a large group of friends to celebrate and probably get drunk. Before long, the other teens gave up looking for her and left, figuring she'd already gotten out, or would get out on her own soon. Based on where she was found it is believed Masha spent at least three days wandering in the freezing cold and pitch black before dying of dehydration. The remains of more than 1,000 people lie deep under the modern town of Rabat. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. Old Catacombs Odessa, Ukraine (XVIII-XX century) . Beneath the city of Odessa, and also its outskirts, lie a labyrinth-like network of tunnels, known as the Odessa Catacombs. She was headed . Layer by Layer: A Mexico City Culinary Adventure, Sacred Granaries, Kasbahs and Feasts in Morocco, Monster of the Month: The Hopkinsville Goblins, Writing the Food Memoir: A Workshop With Gina Rae La Cerva, Reading the Urban Landscape With Annie Novak, How to Grow a Dye Garden With Aaron Sanders Head, Making Scents: Experimental Perfumery With Saskia Wilson-Brown, Indigenous Desserts of Turtle Island With Mariah Gladstone, University of Massachusetts Entomology Collection, The Frozen Banana Stands of Balboa Island, The Paratethys Sea Was the Largest Lake in Earths History, How Communities Are Uncovering Untold Black Histories, The Medieval Thieves Who Used Cats, Apes, and Turtles as Accomplices, 10 of the World's Most Disorienting Places, http://odessitclub.org/en/archives/dallin/chapter_6.html#Catacombs. We don't know for sure what Masha was looking for when she went into the catacombs with her friends. Instead, he claims they were looking for the body of Janis Stendzenieks, the son of a local newspaper magnate. The sticking point of this famous story is that no one is sure if it really happened. The biggest and most serious efforts were made by a club specifically created for the purpose Poisk ( ). After the communists came to power, this man hid both himself and the golden Titanic in the catacombs below, never to be discovered. He claimed that his best friend had led the expedition, and that he had been there when the infamous photo was taken. Even if they managed to find an entrance that was accessible, they were not to venture inside. [Online] Available at: http://odesskiy.com/chisto-fakti-iz-zhizni-i-istorii/istorija-vozniknovenija-odesskih-katakomb.html, Richter, D. 2013. 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. "The diggers determined it was a Satanist who got lost.". But according to the official Odessa Catacombs website, the whole story of Masha is a lie. Find Out. Catacombs below Odessa, Ukraine. Parts of the mines are still active, but the majority of the tunnels remain closed to the public. Here they lived slept, cooked, organized raids, and fought. While you may have never heard of the Odessa catacombs, they are filled with legends and dark tales that you'll never forget. According to the 2009 forum post on Urban Explorer's Resource (UER) by a catacombs explorer named Eugene Lata, who brought Masha's story to the English-speaking world, the tale begins late on New Year's Day (or possibly New Year's Eve) in 2005. In the morning, they braved the morning cold to get back to hearth and home. I mean it's Vice. 2019. 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." 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. . The only Ukrainians who have any official business down there are workers in active mines who still dig for limestone. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. ", 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. This was only aimed at the portions beneath the town center though, and the rest of the catacombs continued to develop some time after. 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. In World War II, Odessa was besieged in August of 1941 by the Axis forces. The final resting place for the remains of 143 Habsburg royalty. The body is real though, it belonged to a man 40 to 60 years, who was killed in the catacombs. "Besides the original photographer," a post says, "there isn't one person, civilian or law enforcement, that can confirm the story. Many of the tunnels have been filled, either with earth or concrete, however the majority remain open and unmapped. [Online] Available at: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mind-boggling-catacomb-maps, Thuras, D. Odessa Catacombs. Today, there are dozens of semi-professional catacomb explorer groups that venture into the Odessa catacombs. This was a mistake. We dare you. 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. Fake? It can be really dangerous," he wrote, adding "here are some new pictures of our catacombs. 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. [4]Limestone was cut using saws, and mining became so intensive that by the second half of the 19th century, the extensive network of catacombs created many inconveniences to the city. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. ( Artem Merzlenko /Adobe Stock). They were a popular location for murderers to hide bodies, and on at least three occasions, were a location where area kids had ventured inside, never to be seen again. Imagine a glass you can bend and then watch it return to its original form. ( gorinov /Adobe Stock). Every culture has an explanation about how we got here. A glass that you drop but it doesnt break. Many of Ukraines cities have rich and lengthy histories behind them all filled with tales and secrets. An entrance to the Odessa catacombs is located at 4632'33.8N 3038'06.0E. Masha had traveled several miles into the catacombs. There are reasons why the Odessa catacombs are so shrouded in enigma and macabre reputation -many of those who ventured deep below have never come out. vegan options at biltmore estate. ( onyx124 /Adobe Stock). The group ventured deep inside and soon enough they got lost. 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. ", 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. Throughout the history of civilization, the concept of the apocalypse has been ever present, in one way or another. As I said earlier, a lot of people lost and even dead under Odessa. These men and women remained hidden, living in the catacombs. [Online] Available at: https://irishurbanexplorations.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/odessa-catacombs-day-1-odessa-ukraine/, Author Unknown. An underground paleo-Christian burial site composed of the remains of several cemeteries and Basilicas. As of 2019, there are more than 1,000 known entrances to the tunnels. Understanding the Mysterious Kingdom of Shambhala, The Green Children of Woolpit: Legendary Visitors from Another World, Medieval Sea Monster Was Likely a Whale, New Research Reveals, Adventist Adventurer Claimed to Have Found Ark of the Covenant Beneath Crucifixion Site, Iron Age Comb Made from Human Skull Discovered Near Cambridge, Caesars Savage Human Skewers Unearthed In German Fort, The Evidence is Cut in Stone: A Compelling Argument for Lost High Technology in Ancient Egypt, A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. However, in the drunken revelry a member of the group, a girl named Masha, became. [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. Above ground, the Fasciest Germans and Romanians would identify random catacomb exits and seal them off, hoping to trap them inside. In fact, these labyrinthine tunnels are so enormous, that they easily dwarf both the catacombs of Rome and those of Paris . Come for the severed heads, stay for the book bound in human skin. Shiver. If she was lucky, she died quickly from the cold . The catacombs once served as the preferred hideout for rebels, criminals, and during World War II, air-raid shelters. Inside the mine, the catacombs turned, forked, and led Masha further from the entrance. list of hair dyes that contain metallic salts; eglin afb housing floor plans. aeries parent portal madera. The tunnels would become a safe haven for a plethora of different characters, most of them shady . There you will find the skeletal remains of more than 6 million people. "The diggers determined it was a Satanist who got lost.". 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. A Tour of the Worlds Largest Labyrinth: The Odessa Catacombs. Our story begins sometime early in 2005, when a party (possibly for New Years) was allegedly held within the catacombs by a group of young adults. (To get a sense of how much tunnel system that really is, it is only 2138 kilometers from Odessa to Paris.). On January 1st 2005, a young Ukranian teenage girl named Masha put on her make-up, packed up some champagne, and headed out for her New Years Eve nights party. The whole story of Masha might actually just be an urban legend. 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. 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. On January 1st, 2005, some Odessa teens decided to spend New Years night partying in the catacombs. 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. "During the time she was inside, her 'friends' didn't try to take her body out," Lata wrote, guessing that they were "frightened.". A vast country that prides itself on a history rich with heroes and artists. On January 1st, 2005, some Odessa teens decided to spend New Year's night partying in the catacombs. Stop by the blog every day this month for true tales of the unquiet dead. Offer subject to change without notice. He then threw the axe into the sea. Odessa, just outside of Ukraine's capital, Kiev, is home to one of the largest catacombs in the entire world. masha who died in the catacombs. It took two years before the police were able to locate her body and retrieve it from the catacombs. They would throw in poison gas canisters, hoping to smoke them out and finish them off. Odessas catacombs quickly became the preferred hideout of rebels, criminals, and eccentrics. What are you a professional corpsologist? But being murdered and having your body dumped in the catacombs is a vacation compared to what is rumored to have happened to Masha. This myth has led many treasure hunters to enter the darkness of the catacombs in search of wealth. Odesskiy. 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. [1] Parts were used as air-raid shelters during World War II. 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!) There are stories of industrious winemakers and mushroom growers who go down there regularly to leave their product to age or grow, confident no one will find it and interfere. Various message boards shared the tale, and websites began to present the details as fact. They were used as a source of cheap construction materials. They're not the safest places to be either. Learn how your comment data is processed. Detachment of Molodtsov near Odessa Catacombs. I remember seeing that on tv as a teenager and it still freaks me out today to even think about it. Their goal was to explore the catacombs and document the history of the partisan movement. Top Image: Old Odessa Catacombs Source: onyx124 / Adobe Stock, Author Unknown. Skeletons and mummified animal corpses , World War II weapon caches, archaic items and human corpses. Partisan weapon caches such as rifles and grenades are occasionally still found within the tunnels, and about once every five years a body is found. As is the nature of people, and urban explorers, tunnels and caves outside of the trusted zone serve as an exhilarating adventure. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Some objects are especially prized because the story about them is so precious. These groups have even rescued a number of children who have wandered into the catacombs and gotten lost. Eventually, a journalist wrote about the body, and within 24 hours, the police came and had it removed. In 2005, a group of urban explorers discovered the body of a dead woman named Masha who had disappeared . Perhaps the most popular of catacombs is beneath the city of Paris, France. This led to a lot of attempt at secrecy by the officials. According to the investigation of the incident, the man was with a group of friends, and had been drinking with the young girl. Mind boggling isnt it? Belief in malevolent spirits inhabiting the human body has persisted across cultures for millennia. We believe it is just a practical joke and the corpse is fake." If she was lucky, she died quickly from the cold. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. She didn't make it out alive, it's said. What's worse is that it's believed she walked away from the entrance, farther underground, so that the temperatures dropped even lower. The catacombs are on three levels, and reach a depth of 200ft (60 meters) below sea level. According to Pugovkin, someone else had vanished in 2004: Janis Stendzenieks, the son of a newspaper magnate named Armand Stendzenieks. 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. 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. The closest thing in real life to the deadly labyrinth of King Minosor, if you prefer, the one from the movie Labyrinthis a network of tunnels under the city of Odessa, Ukraine. Creepy stories about the Odessa catacombs range fromdead bodies found in catacombs, topeople who have gotten lost in catacombs and were never seen again. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Lets unravel the story of these vast catacombs that lie untouched beneath one of Ukraines largest towns. Enjoy.". The mystery person was of no value at all, Pugovkin says. 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. But some places just arent meant to be explored. Unfortunately, what they often find inside is far more grim than that. Padlocks cover this rickety footbridge with love. Go to the left, go to the right, Youll only meet the darkness of the night, Another poem tells of the loneliness inside the tunnels: Sing not, oh nightingale, against my cell, and dont interrupt my prayer, oh, nightingale.. They go on multi-day underground treks, known as expeditions, to document and map the system. They decided to do this inthe Odessa catacombs, where they could have some privacy, drink, and have fun with a little added creep factor. [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. [citation needed], The first underground stone mines started to appear in the 19th century, while vigorous construction took place in Odesa. Atlas Obscura. 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! It is one of the world's largest urban labyrinths, running up to 2,500 kilometres (1,600mi). 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. She made the decision to venture down into the mine for privacy sake. In the photo, Masha is unidentifiable beyond simply being a human. Everyone wanted to see where poor Masha had met her end. Parents in the area warned their children to stay away. The story quickly became a famous Internet legend. Unfortunately for Masha, this was not the case. By some estimates, they span 1,550 miles, making the network a little longer than the whole Pacific coastline of the continuous United States. After the Soviets were forced out of the city, dozens of soviet-organized Ukrainian rebel groups remained, hiding below the city. - BACKSTORY - The story goes like thisMasha or Mashenka, depending on t. Believing this to be the best explanation for her absence, the group agreed and they left. She quickly became separated from her party, and unable to find her way back. In the 19th century, most houses in Odesa were built of limestone that was mined nearby. Fine Art? 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. We believe it is just a practical joke and the corpse is fake. A wrong turn can mean death in these tunnels and every step might reveal some unseen horror. Although the tunnels are mostly limestone mines used to build the city, they have a storied history which includes Nazi executions during WWII and legends of a small replica of the Titanic made of solid gold among other things. [7], A 2015 investigation by Vice writer Mike Pearl similarly found no evidence that Masha had existed. Kostya Pugovkin, who identified himself as a veteran of Ukraine's Antiterrorist Operation based in Odessa, claims to be the one who personally hefted the body in that photograph out of the depths.