Beneath unassuming villages in the southern reaches of the Cappadocia region, a vast and intricate secret lies underground - cities capable of holding thousands and extending hundreds of feet below the surface. In fact, over 200 of these underground cities are found in the area, a number that seems to increase over the years. Perhaps the two largest, and definitely most well known, are the Derinkuyu and Kaymakli underground cities, connected via a 9-km long tunnel. In 1963, a resident of a village unearthed a tunnel while renovating his home, leading to the rediscovery of the long-forgotten Derinkuyu city. Derinkuyu extends 279 feet below ground and was once able to accommodate up to 20,000 people. Kaymakli sheltered up to 6,000 people, and even though it ‘only’ extended 66 feet surface, it spread out wide.

Even though these cities were used to shelter people for various reasons over the years, particularly for Christians in the region hiding from Arab raids, the actual date of construction is unknown and not without controversy. The Turkish Department of Culture says it may have been constructed in the 8th century B.C. by the Phrygians, but as almost no dating has been able to be conducted, the actual date could be much earlier. Regardless the age, these world wonders are a beautiful reminder to the extremes mankind have taken to survive.