If it were laid out in a straight line the tunnels would reach all the way to Paris.
Incidentally, Paris is also the place where the world’s second largest catacombs are located.
But Odessas catacombs are five times longer than those in Paris.
An incredible amount of mining took place to extract limestone to build the city above ground.
The tunnels were dug more than a hundred feet below ground on three different levels.
At one time these dark and dingy tunnels were even used by slave traders.
The hideouts were turned into comfortable living spaces by the guerilla fighters.
There were recreation rooms where men played checkers, chess, or dominoes by candlelight.
Rooms for accommodation had shelves cut into the walls where men and women slept.
Kitchens were equipped with stoves made of limestone and smoke was vented into empty chambers above.
There was even a hospital and an operating theater.
Going into the tunnels without a guide is extremely dangerous.
Its all to easy to wander into the darkness and never return.
Amateur map of a section from the Odessa catacombs.
Photo credit:Reddit
Photo credit:IPAAT/Panoramio
Museum of Partisan Glory in the Odessa Catacombs.
Photo credit:IPAAT/Panoramio
Sources:Wikipedia/www.wsj.com/The Bohemian Blog/www.ukraine.com/wol.jw.org
