Derinkuyu in Cappadocia, Turkey holds 20,000 people across 18 levels reaching 280 ft deep. Discovered in 1963 when a man knocked through his basement wall during home renovations. The city was expanded and used throughout various periods—possibly with earlier chambers, but primarily developed during Byzantine times. Massive stone doors (1,000 lbs) sealed tunnels from inside. 🕳️
Derinkuyu: 18-level underground city for 20,000
TürkiyeGeneral
Key facts
- Located beneath quiet town in Cappadocia, Turkey
- 18 levels deep, approximately 280 ft down (28-story skyscraper height)
- Could accommodate 20,000 people
- Discovered in 1963 when a man renovating his basement knocked down a wall
- Carved by hand into soft volcanic rock
- Holds stables, schools, chapels, wineries, kitchens, armories, and neighborhoods
- Connected by maze of tunnels narrow enough that invaders could only approach single file
- Massive circular stone doors weighing up to 1,000 lbs could be rolled into place from inside
- 180 ft shaft funnels fresh air and can be cut off from surface to prevent contamination
- More than 50 smaller vents once threaded to fields above, disguised as ordinary pits
- Each level could isolate itself
- Oldest confirmed artifacts point to Phrygian construction around 8th century BC
- Some scholars argue Hittites built first chambers in 15th century BC
- Others suggest connection to Younger Dryas global freeze around 12,900 years ago
- Zoroastrian text Avesta describes god Arada instructing Yima to build sealed underground enclosure against deadly winter
- Over 200 underground cities across Cappadocia
- One discovered in 2015 beneath hilltop fortress may be even larger
Sources
academia.edu
Linked in video description
Derinkuyu underground cityen.wikipedia.org
also known as Malakopi, is an ancient multi-level underground city near the modern town of Derinkuyu extending to a depth of approximately 85 metres (280 ft).
Derinkuyu Underground City, Cappadociathemaritimeexplorer.ca
Derinkuyu was by far the largest of the Cappadocian underground cities, capable of housing up to 20,000 people in what was essentially a human ...
Turkey's underground city of 20000 peoplebbc.com
The ancient city of Elengubu, known today as Derinkuyu, burrows more than 85m below the Earth's surface, encompassing 18 levels of tunnels.
Derinkuyu Underground City, Turkeyodysseytraveller.com
The Derinkuyu underground city is a massive subterranean network of caves and underground dwellings located in the Derinkuyu district of Nevşehir Province in ...
Turkey's 22 Underground Citiesshop.minimuseum.com
Derinkuyu, as the city is called, is only one of 22 large-scale ... 18 levels of tunnels that housed chapels, schools, living quarters ...
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