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All Turkey Özkonak Belediyesi Özkonak Underground City

Özkonak Underground City

This ancient subterranean megalopolis is known for the hot oil traps that were installed above each of its entrances.

Özkonak Belediyesi, Turkey

Added By
Eric Grundhauser
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Özkonak Underground City   Katpatuka on Wikipedia
Özkonak Underground City   Katpatuka on Wikipedia
Özkonak Underground City   Wolfgang Sauber on Wikimedia Commons
Özkonak Underground City   Wolfgang Sauber on Wikimedia Commons
ville souterraine d’Özkonak   philoursmars
ville souterraine d’Özkonak   philoursmars
ville souterraine d’Özkonak   philoursmars
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About

While the exact age of the Cappadonian underground city of Özkonak is unknown, it dates back to before antiquity however the industrial systems laced throughout its halls seem surprisingly advanced, especially the hot oil holes sitting above each entrance which seem positively medieval. 

Discovered in 1972 by a farmer who noticed the water he would give to his crops seemed to mysteriously drain somewhere into the ground, Özkonak was found to be one of three expansive underground strongholds in the region (including Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu). Each of the cities featured multiple, stacked levels of dug out chambers connected to a shockingly sophisticated ventilation and water system. Özkonak differs from its sister cities in two important aspects however.

Across Özkonak's ten descending levels, there was a crude communication system installed so that each level could talk to the one above or below it, a feature that is unique to the city. Also unique to the city, is its system of holes just above the entrances to the city through which they could pour hot oil on any attacking forces. Medieval castles eat your heart out.

Four of Özkonak's ten floors are open to the public so that visitors can get a taste of what life's like underground. Just look out for falling oil. 

Related Tags

Subterranean Subterranean Sites Fortresses Archaeology

Community Contributors

Added By

EricGrundhauser

Edited By

philoursmars

  • philoursmars

Published

September 18, 2014

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%96zkonak_Underground_City
  • http://www.cappadociaturkey.net/ozkonak_underground_city.htm
  • http://www.historvius.com/ozkonak-underground-city-1781/
  • http://www.mydestination.com/cappadocia/6179053/top-10-underground-cities-of-cappadocia
Özkonak Underground City
Özkonak Underground City
Nr. Avanos
Özkonak Belediyesi, 50500
Turkey
38.813056, 34.839444
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