Gettin' Down with the Underground

No, you can't tell your little brother to play hide-and-seek here, not even with a flashlight.

The Odessa Catacombs are 2,500 kilometers of tunnels weaving this way and that through a giant limestone foundation. Unlike other catacombs, however, these are not an underground graveyard, except for those unfortunate souls who got lost playing Lone Ranger down there.

In the early 19th century, the locals discovered this chunk of limestone and started cutting out blocks for buildings. That was the only intention, to use the limestone to build a grand city, but in time these efforts created the world's largest network of tunnels. Interestingly, these tunnels proved helpful during World War II when Soviet fighters used them as a hidden base from which to launch guerrilla attacks on the Nazi occupiers. There is even the small Museum of Partisan Glory dedicated to the fighters and all the brave souls who risked their lives carving out the original chunks.

Want to give them a look? You can, but you ain't Indiana Jones so you're gonna need a guide. The official entrance is in the small village of Nebrubayske, where a guide can take through the catacombs in a safe and orderly manner. There are various guides you can hire, though the tourist books often recommend UkraineFare.com, which charges about $45 per booking.

Images by Mortsan and Storyshark courtesy of Flickr.