In Turkey, deep underground, there is a city of many caves. The area of Cappadocia became famous thanks to this find. The system of tunnels and underground chambers was discovered by accident. In 1963, a local resident decided to renovate his house and broke the wall. Behind it I found a secret room. Continuing excavations, he found a tunnel, which turned out to be part of a whole system of underground passages.
This city, named Derinkuyu, dates back to the 8th-7th century BC. e. Narrow corridors and man-made grottoes are like the scenery of adventure films, and they have attracted adventurers from all over the world since 1969. For the inhabitants, only half of the premises are open due to the danger of collapses. And most of the city was hidden from view until the 21st century. Only a few years ago, by chance, scientists learned about the true dimensions of this underground metropolis.
It is not the only one in Cappadocia, but the largest known. The depth of the man-made miracle is 200 meters, and its cavities can accommodate 20 thousand people at a time. This is one of the greatest mysteries of humanity. It is not known why it was built, although scientists have their own hypotheses on this score. According to one of them, at a later time, the object served as a refuge for the urban population during the Arab-Byzantine wars. Eastern Romans could hide in underground tunnels from Arab Muslims.
Around 780-1180 A. D. e. the city has grown significantly in volume. It includes 13 floors, several underground chambers that served as chapels, schools, and kitchens. The ventilation system supplied the caves with fresh air, and the underground river ensured the availability of clean water that could not be poisoned by enemies.
To get inside, you need to push aside boulders weighing half a ton, access to which is only from inside the caves. "Derinkuyu" means "Deep well" and this name is justified. Five underground cities have been discovered on the territory of Cappadocia, but scientists suggest that their number is much higher. Perhaps the Turkish soil hides hundreds of such structures. The region's soil consists of tuff - compressed volcanic ash that is easy to cultivate.
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A visit to this place is contraindicated for those who suffer from claustrophobia - the city consists of many narrow tunnels, the walls of which are covered with a thick layer of soot from torches. This design is not accidental. The narrow passages, through which you can only wade in single file, served as a good defense against enemies.
The central region of the country has become famous all over the world thanks to the unique underground churches and cities that were created by residents over several millennia. The main massif of Derinkuyu is located under the castle located on the top of the hill. In 2013, the exploration of the city continued, thanks to the fact that many more tunnels were discovered, which led the researchers to the multi-story city.