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Builders in Turkey have accidentally found one of the largest and most complex underground cities ever found in the otherworldly region of Cappadocia.

The area is famous for its stunning rock formations, deep valleys and ancient subterranean hideouts carved from volcanic ash rock.

The latest find is thought to be the biggest underground city in Cappadocia, consisting of 3.5 miles (7km) of tunnels, secret churches, tombs and safe havens.

Builders in Turkey have accidentally found one of the largest and most complex underground cities in the otherworldly region of Cappadocia

The subterranean city dates back to around 5,000 years and was discovered when builders saw signs of a massive network of tunnels while moving mounds of Earth.

It lies beneath the Nevşehir fortress and the surrounding area, which was being excavated during a construction project carried out by Turkey's Housing Development Administration (TOKİ).

The multilevel settlement is likely to include living spaces, kitchens, wineries, chapels, staircases, according to a report in National Geographic.

The find is similar to the discovery of another underground city, Derinkuyu, which was made in 1963 when a man took down the wall in his basement.

The area is famous for its stunning rock formations, deep valleys and ancient subterranean hideouts carved from volcanic ash rock

The subterranean city dates back to around 5,000 years and was discovered when builders saw signs of a massive network of tunnels while moving mounds of Earth. Pictured are walkways in the Derinkuyu Underground city, which is in the same region, but smaller than the latest discovery

Derinkuyu was once home to 20,000 residents living together underground, in a city eleven levels deep with 600 entrances.

It had areas for sleeping, stables, wells, kitchens, ventilation shafts, tombs, communal rooms, bathrooms.

Like Derinkuyu, the latest underground city was built to protect residents from invaders, but remains largely unexplored.

But this city far larger, with early estimates suggesting it could be around a third bigger than Derinkuyu.

Geophysicists from Nevşehir University recently conducted a systematic study of a 1.5 mile (4 km) area using geophysical resistivity and seismic tomography.

The studies suggest the underground corridors may go as deep as 371ft (113 metres), but the exact size remains unknown.

Cappadocia, or 'Kapadokya' in Turkish, translates as 'land of the beautiful horses' and tourists often catch a glimpse of long-maned horses galloping through the formations.

Millions of years ago, volcanic activity covered the region under several layers of ash. Erosion then created a landscape of rock formations and spires known as 'fairy chimneys.'

The volcanic rock, or 'tuff,' was soft and highly malleable, and proved ideal building material.

The idea for underground cities came during the Byzantine-era when residents used them as hideouts when threatened by invasion by the Persians, Arabs and Seljuq Turks.

'This new discovery will be added as a new pearl, a new diamond, a new gold' to Cappadocia's riches, Hasan Ünver, mayor of Nevşehir, told National Geographic.

He says he wants to build 'the world's largest antique park,' with boutique hotels and art galleries aboveground, and walking trails and a museum below.

'We even plan to reopen the underground churches,' he says. 'All of this makes us very excited.'

Millions of years ago, volcanic activity covered the region under several layers of ash. The volcanic rock, or 'tuff,' (pictured) was soft and highly malleable, and proved ideal building material. Pictured is a room in Derinkuyu