Derinkuyu

Turkey's Underground City That Once Housed 20,000 People

Underground cities can be found all across the world but one particular underground city has everything in it. Derinkuyu, located in present-day Turkey in the historical Cappadocia region, extends 60 meters into the ground and could accommodate 20,000 inhabitants.

Derinkuyu dates back to the 7th century BC. The early inhabitants of the underground city built it to save themselves from invasions and war. Ingenuity presented them with an opportunity to build a livable area where they can go unnoticed and where they can protect their possessions.