Gazimağusa Baykal Tunnel

Baykal Tunnel is an underground passage with a total length of 65 meters, constructed in 1967 by the master architect Osman Saner and his fellow fighters in Gazimağusa, Northern Cyprus. For seven years the tunnel was kept secret, and during the 20 July 1974 Peace Operation, it enabled thousands of Turkish Cypriots to secretly cross from the Baykal neighborhood, which was then under the control of the Greek Cypriots, to the heavily Turkish-populated area of Suriçi in Gazimağusa, saving their lives.

The tunnel, which still exists today, stretches from the area known as Anıt Çarşı (Monument Bazaar) to the ditch (hendek) located at the base of the walls on the west side of Gazimağusa Castle. The entrance of the tunnel near Anıt Çarşı was sealed off after 1974 and the section directly beneath the bazaar building has collapsed. However, the tunnel entrance at the Hendek side exit remains open, and about 30 meters of it can still be accessed.

TİKA's Contributions

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has installed a glass door at the tunnel's entrance at the Hendek side entrance. Additionally, interior lighting has been installed along the first 30 meters of the tunnel from the entrance.