Beneath the asphalt of Kiev flow more than 80 underground rivers. Klov, Klovitsa, Glybochitsa, Kiyanka, Turets, Zywiec – these are the names of the rivers that the growing metropolis walled up in underground tunnels. In good weather they are all clean and peaceful, but in bad weather they turn into storm drains. Water enters the tunnels through the grilles on the streets and flows naturally into the Dnipro River.
Most of the tunnels run beneath the streets, and many of the streets were named after the rivers.
The tunnels of the underground rivers fall under the responsibility of the municipal enterprise “Kyivavtodor”. You will also often meet Kiev urban explorers in the tunnels. Unlike the European “combined” sewerage system, where all types of water flow through the same tunnels beneath the city, at the end of the 19th century engineers in Kiev decided to separate domestic sewage from storm drains.
Underground river Klov
Klov is the most interesting underground river in Kiev – no doubt about it. It is an extensive network of tunnels beneath the city center, stretching from Maidan Nezalezhnosti square to Arsenalna metro station. “Klov” is actually a general name; workers call it “tunnel system No. 7” or “collector Prozorovsky”. This tunnel system unites the flow of three underground rivers. The Klov river takes its source from the “Arsenal” factory, the “Khreshchatyk” river runs beneath European Square, and the Klovitsa river runs beneath the area of Bankova Street. The old part of the tunnels, preserved beneath Khreshchatyk, was built according to a project by Vladislav Gorodetsky and has historical value as a monument of underground architecture.
Klov
An ancient brick tunnel from the 19th century, built according to a project by Vladislav Gorodetsky.
Explore Kyiv’s Underground Rivers with a guide who will make this adventure unforgettable!
Skomorokh
This river takes its source beneath the Motozavod plant and flows into the Lybid River near the Central Railway Station. Near the National Circus, another stream, “Afanasyev Yar”, flows into it as its left tributary.
The central part of the tunnel has always attracted prospectors, their chisels and hammers breaking through the hardened deposits in search of coins and ornaments. The tunnel of the underground river is very varied: from old brick to a narrow concrete pipe.
Glubochitsa River
The Glubochitsa is the largest river in the “Podol” neighborhood of Kiev. The street names Verhni Val and Nizhni Val came from the right and left banks of this river. The oldest part of this river, from Gavan harbour to Vozvizhenka Street, was buried underground in the 1870s. The section of tunnel near the “Zhitniy” market area was recognized as an architectural monument, based on the results of an expedition by the Academy of Archaeology of the Ukrainian SSR in 1949. The source of the river lies beneath Tatarka, and beneath Glubochitskaya Street the stream runs through a concrete tunnel built in Soviet times.
Glubochitsa
This section of the tunnel has historical value as an architectural monument.
ATTENTION! We remind you that exploring underground rivers can be truly dangerous to your life and health. Do not attempt it without experience in urban exploration.
If you want to see the underground world of Kiev, you can do it with an experienced guide. Book one of our UrbEx tours in Kiev.