The beauty of Coober Pedy, the Underground City in Australia
Coober Pedy is located in South Australia, about 1,609 km from Canberra and the city is called the opal capital of the world. (Photo: Doc. Southaustralia.com)
HOLIDAY NEWS: Coober Pedy is a city in Australia, where people live, shop and worship. Uniquely, all community activities are carried out underground. Yes, you read that right, everything is done underground or you could say that Coober Pedy is an underground city. This city is not only unique, but has amazing beauty.
In the middle of the Australian outback, there is a town where chimneys rise from the sand and big red signs warn people about unmarked holes. Yes, welcome to Coober Pedy, the city that lives underground.
The story begins in 1916 as the world's largest opal mining operation that has grown into an underground community. This location is safely out of reach of the region's 120 degree Fahreinhet summer heat or around 48 degrees Celsius.
Entire bedrooms, bookstores, churches and bars are set into Coober Pedy's ornate crypt walls. After 100 years of living in the dugout, the people who call it home plan not to move.
(Coober Pedy is one of the cities in Australia that is underground. Photo: Doc. Vincent Long/Australiangeographic)
Origin
Coober Pedy is located in South Australia, more than 1,000 miles (approximately 1,609 km) from Canberra, the country's capital. This city is called the opal capital of the world.
Meanwhile, Coober Pedy is an Aboriginal word that roughly translates to white man in the hole.
The city's summer months can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48 degrees Celsius). Much to the dismay of locals and visitors, there is little rainfall to provide relief from the blazing sun.
Due to the dry climate, water can sometimes be scarce in the city. According to ABC News, Coober Pedy draws water from the Great Artesian Basin located about 15 miles (24 km) from the city.
While Aboriginal people have long inhabited the region, miners first moved into town in 1916. After World War I, soldiers returned home and began mining the terrain for opals which are a valuable gemstone.
Coober Pedy was once covered by the ocean, which helped create the town's opal mines. When the water recedes, minerals from the ocean's seabed crack into the earth and create colorful opals.
When opal mining became a steady but not particularly booming business, the residents of Coober Pedy began converting discarded opal mines into permanent excavations. Many have turned mines into makeshift homes to escape the oppressive heat on their skin.
(There is also a church located underground in Coober Pedy. Photo: Doc. Mark Kolbe/Getty Images/Insider)
Underground city view
With a home's cave-like exterior, the process of going underground may seem like a venture into the unknown. The city looks like an eerie, otherworldly place, even though it is home to around 2,500 residents.
However, about 80 percent of the local population has made their homes in the sandstone. They will spend most of their lives there, escaping the harsh Australian sun, and making their home beneath the Australian outback.
Even though it looks different from cities in general, when visitors go there it is actually quite comfortable.
For example, the bedroom of Faye Nayler, a woman who picked up and shoveled out her own house in 1960. Faye Nayler and two friends managed to build a bar, a swimming pool in the living room, and a full dining kitchen.
The underground house has all the traditional amenities, internet access, electricity and water. Until now, the place is said to be a tourist attraction called Faye's Underground House.
The only difference between other normal houses and those in Coober Pedy is that these houses do not have direct access to sunlight. Meanwhile, there is a house keeper who gives guided tours every day.
Other people can visit by having to pay an entrance fee to visit Faye's Underground House. The location is considered one of the must-see places in Coober Pedy.
(Desert Cave Hotel in Coober Pedy. Photo: Doc. South Australia)
Amazing facilities
Guests can also attend church services. The church is located 55 feet below the earth's surface. In addition, residents can also buy good books at the city bookstore to pass the time.
Underground Books was converted from a 1930s era mining shaft into a small bookstore filled with books on the history of Coober Pedy and much more.
The town of Cooper Pedy can be accessed via several routes. These include, by small airstrip, by coach tour or private car, and via the Ghan railway line which runs between Darwin and Adelaide.
Travelers looking for an authentic Coober Pedy experience can visit the Desert Cave Hotel. The hotel has a bar, billiards room, restaurant and souvenir shop.
A room in a comfortable accommodation costs around AUD150 per night. There are two city supermarkets located on the same street above ground. There are also a number of tourist shops in the city.
(Beautiful opal stones in Coober Pedy. Photo: Doc. Dmitry Chulov/Shutterstock/Insider)
The Opal Bug is an opal shop in Coober Pedy selling everything from gems to jewelery and watches. However, many visitors also like to visit the shop to see the famous opal-colored Volkswagen Beetle.
Other souvenir shops also serve local residents and tourists. In fact, there are also shops that advertise that they sell everything from DVDs and video games to fossils and opals.
When walking around, residents and visitors should watch their steps, especially at night. This is because holes in the ground from old mine shafts are easy to find on the streets throughout the city.
The city is making sure people know the dangers of deep mine shafts. However, there is no need to worry too much, as there are warning signs scattered throughout the city.
This city is beautiful with life-supporting facilities for its people, even though it is underground. Another unique thing is that abandoned mining equipment and vehicles can also be found around Coober Pedy.
Australia produces about 95 percent of the world's supply of precious opals, and mining is still a popular trade in Coober Pedy.
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