Catacomb underground tunnels in Odessa, Ukraine, October 2009 The tunnels used by soviet army and partisans during 2. World War
The first underground stone mines started to appear in the second half of 19th century, while a vigorous construction took place in Odessa. They were used as a source of a cheap construction materials, the shell rock. This material was obtained using the saws, and became so intensive, that by the second half of 19th century the extensive network of catacombs created many inconveniences to the city. After the years of Great October Socialist Revolution there came out the prohibition for stone mining within the central part of Odessa (inside the Porto-Franko zone, bounded by Old Port Franko - and Panteleymonovskaya streets. During World War II the catacombs served as a hiding places for Soviet partisans — and namely the squaed of Molodtsev. (wikipedia) The writer, Valentin Kataev described in all details the battle between soviet partisans against fascist invaders in his work named "The Waves of The Black Sea". These fights took place underneath Odessa, and its nearby suburb Usatovo. In 1961 the "Search" (Poisk) club was created in order to explore the history of partisan movement among the catacombs. During the last years it expanded the cartographical boundaries of the catacombs. By the beginning of the 21st century limestone mining were continued in the mines located in, Dofinovka, Byldynka, and "Fomina balka" settlements near Odessa. Such a fashion, the extent of catacombs advances till today's date.
Size: 3400px × 5100px
Location: Odessa, Ukraine
Photo credit: © Hasan Doganturk / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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