These Tunnels store the bones of over 5 million people

#megaprojects #catacombs #paris

Welcome to Amazing Projects. Today we are diving into the mesmerizing world of the Paris Catacombs. Join us, as we delve deep into the history and secrets that lie beneath the vibrant streets of the City of Light.
The roots of the Paris Catacombs can be traced back to the time when the ancient Romans inhabited the banks of the Seine River. In this limestone-rich region, mining operations began as early as the 1st Century, with the stones being used to construct the magnificent city of Paris. As the quarries were gradually depleted, they were carelessly abandoned and forgotten, leading to a vast, unregulated labyrinth of tunnels beneath the city.
Over the centuries, the haphazard abandonment of the tunnels resulted in numerous cave-in disasters. In 1774, a series of mine collapses, starting with the collapse of a house along the infamous "rue d'Enfer," compelled King Louis XVI to appoint a commission to map and reinforce the underground network.
The Catacombs occupy only a fraction of the extensive tunnel system that stretches for thousands of miles beneath the Parisian streets. Originally vast limestone quarries, they were gradually abandoned as the city expanded. Meanwhile, the cemeteries of Paris faced a dire problem of overcrowding, resulting in unsanitary conditions. The effluents from the graves contaminated the city's water sources, exacerbating the already challenging living conditions.

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