I had been wanting to make a return trip to Odessa since before we had even made it home last time. This time we managed to cover a much larger area, spending about twelve hours underground.
Our guide this time, Andrej has spent the best part of a twenty five years exploring the catas here, is a geologist and lectures at a university. In his little remaining spare time he also helps run a catacomb museum under the centre of Odessa- http://www.katakomby.odessa.ua/index/ehkskursii_v_odesskie_katakomby/0-12. I can't recommend taking the tour here enough!
Here's a few photos from the museum to start with.
There was loads more to see down here, but it's not the easiest place to photograph with a load of people milling about.
Катакомбы межлиманья-
This was three separate quarries which have become connected as they have expanded. The oldest section was from the turn of the century, the next was from the 1950's and the newest section only stopped being worked five years ago.
I'm not really sure where this is in relation to Odessa city, apart from the fact it is about an hour and a half on a bus to get to the nearest stop.
Arriving in the early evening, this was the entrance for this area.
This was the tunnel on the way in, the ruts on the floor are where there used to be rails. Apparently these had been stolen within a few months of the quarry works finishing.
This is part of the modern section which was quarried with machines, here Andrej is explaining how the blocks were cut and how to determine their quality by the sound when you hit them with a hammer.
More sections of the modern tunnel, easy to identify from the quarrying marks.
Here a tunnel cuts through to the 1950's works.
The cavity in the wall here used to house an electrical transformer, I'm not 100% which section this was, but I think the 1950's
This room was called Paris and is used as a camp when the local guys do a long trip, apparently they will often spend a week or so here through the summer.
Random tunnel shots.
This was a stables for keeping the cart horses.
And this was a well to draw their water from.
Your guess is as good as mine for this one..
Into the oldest section, here you can see the walls worn away by the wheels on the carts that would have hauled the cut stones to the surface.
One of the original entrances to the oldest section.
Eventually blocked by a ceiling collapse.
Heading back to the surface.
In a lot of places there is so little support left that the walls are starting to fracture and collapse, Andrej reckoned that these areas have perhaps ten years before they become impassible.
The remains of what I think was a cigarette pack.
Finally back out just in time for the first bus of the day back to Odessa.
Massive thanks to Andrej, who took spent the whole night guiding us, because it was the only time he had free due to working all day.. And also to Mrs Howser who came for no reason other then to act as translator!
If any of you should be heading this way then I would definitely suggest speaking to Andrej, his knowledge of the catas here is unsurpassed- he is the guy that the emergency services go to when someone is lost in the catacombs.
Our guide this time, Andrej has spent the best part of a twenty five years exploring the catas here, is a geologist and lectures at a university. In his little remaining spare time he also helps run a catacomb museum under the centre of Odessa- http://www.katakomby.odessa.ua/index/ehkskursii_v_odesskie_katakomby/0-12. I can't recommend taking the tour here enough!
Here's a few photos from the museum to start with.
There was loads more to see down here, but it's not the easiest place to photograph with a load of people milling about.
Катакомбы межлиманья-
This was three separate quarries which have become connected as they have expanded. The oldest section was from the turn of the century, the next was from the 1950's and the newest section only stopped being worked five years ago.
I'm not really sure where this is in relation to Odessa city, apart from the fact it is about an hour and a half on a bus to get to the nearest stop.
Arriving in the early evening, this was the entrance for this area.
This was the tunnel on the way in, the ruts on the floor are where there used to be rails. Apparently these had been stolen within a few months of the quarry works finishing.
This is part of the modern section which was quarried with machines, here Andrej is explaining how the blocks were cut and how to determine their quality by the sound when you hit them with a hammer.
More sections of the modern tunnel, easy to identify from the quarrying marks.
Here a tunnel cuts through to the 1950's works.
The cavity in the wall here used to house an electrical transformer, I'm not 100% which section this was, but I think the 1950's
This room was called Paris and is used as a camp when the local guys do a long trip, apparently they will often spend a week or so here through the summer.
Random tunnel shots.
This was a stables for keeping the cart horses.
And this was a well to draw their water from.
Your guess is as good as mine for this one..
Into the oldest section, here you can see the walls worn away by the wheels on the carts that would have hauled the cut stones to the surface.
One of the original entrances to the oldest section.
Eventually blocked by a ceiling collapse.
Heading back to the surface.
In a lot of places there is so little support left that the walls are starting to fracture and collapse, Andrej reckoned that these areas have perhaps ten years before they become impassible.
The remains of what I think was a cigarette pack.
Finally back out just in time for the first bus of the day back to Odessa.
Massive thanks to Andrej, who took spent the whole night guiding us, because it was the only time he had free due to working all day.. And also to Mrs Howser who came for no reason other then to act as translator!
If any of you should be heading this way then I would definitely suggest speaking to Andrej, his knowledge of the catas here is unsurpassed- he is the guy that the emergency services go to when someone is lost in the catacombs.
