Ever imagine living underground? Well, in a South Australian town called Coober Pedy, that’s the reality for about half the population.
The desert town, which is home to an estimated 4,000 people, is a hidden city complete with homes, restaurants, bars, hotels, and churches — all just beneath the Earth's surface.
While the underground concept alone attracts tons of tourists every year, the very first migrants found themselves intrigued by something else in Coober Pedy — opal. In the winter of 1915, a group of men dubbed the New Colorado Prospecting Syndicate were looking for gold near the area when they stumbled upon deposits of the valuable gemstone.
Miners quickly moved to the area and were followed by soldiers after World War I ended. The soldiers created “dugouts,” which not only served as shelters during battles, but also proved to be the perfect solution to avoid the town’s unbearable heat. And thus the underground city was born.
Today, Coober Pedy is regarded as the “Opal Capital of the World,” as it is the greatest producer of the gem. It's also an interesting tourist attraction with a distinct golf course, underground camping, and more. However, traveling to the area is only recommended between April and October in order to avoid the uncomfortable temperatures.
See photos below and make sure to SHARE this amazing destination with your friends on Facebook!
A group of men stumbled upon Coober Pedy in South Australia in 1915 while looking for gold, but found something else very valuable — opal.
The land is so rife with the precious gemstone that Coober Pedy earned the nickname “Opal Capital of the World."
Miners and soldiers quickly moved in, but the temperatures were scorching hot in the desert. Their solution? Living underground.
Today, there are about 4,000 people living in Cooper Pedy, many of which still live their lives underground.
The underground homes appear a bit dark and mysterious...
...but they are probably more spacious than you expect!
It's also a tourist attraction with several things to do — like Riba's Underground Camping.
There's also an underground church...
And even underground hotel rooms. (Quite a bit different than a trip to the Caribbean!)
The hotel rooms are actually pretty modern — they just don't have windows.
Maybe this bar will make you feel a little more comfortable being underground?
There's also an aboveground golf course, albeit one with no grass whatsoever (and a clever sign).
