There is a city underground in Australia. The city of Coober Pedy in Australia: the underground capital of opals

Coober Pedy is a small underground city in Australia, which is located in central region countries. It received the title of the opal capital of the world thanks to the huge deposits of these minerals, which shine in rainbow colors. There are approximately 30% of all opal deposits on the planet. No place on Earth can compare with it in this indicator.

This mining town is also known for its unusual underground houses. It is believed that its name has something to do with them. It comes from the language of the indigenous people of the country. The combination “kupa-piti” is translated from it as “white man’s hole.”
More than 1,600 people live in the underground “holes” of the town of Coober Pedy, dug at a depth of an average of 4-5 meters. The main business of local residents is the extraction of precious opals.

The city is located in the Great Victoria Desert, in the south of the country. This is one of the driest and most sparsely populated areas of the continent. With the advent of the twentieth century, precious opals began to be actively mined there. Since this place was always hot, dry, and sand storms periodically raged, the miners, along with their relatives, began to move into houses carved out of the mountains. Many of them had a direct passage into the mine. The conditions in these “apartments” were quite comfortable, no worse than in traditional dwellings. At any time of the year, the temperature in them did not rise above 22-24°C. There were the same rooms we were used to. The only thing missing was windows, since due to the extremely high summer temperatures, a maximum of two windows could be made.

If you build a home in a town with the largest deposit of precious opals, you can get rich, because approximately 96% of these stones are mined here. Some time ago, they were drilling for a hotel in Coober Pedy and found specimens worth approximately $360,000.
A valuable deposit was unexpectedly discovered a hundred years ago, in 1915, when they were searching for water sources in the area. Already on next year Miners began to flock there. It is estimated that approximately 60% of Coober Pedy's population was from European countries. They moved there when the Second World War ended world war to work in the mines. Thus the city became the largest producer of high-quality opals in the world and still remains.
The distinctive properties of noble opals include rainbow tints. This is explained by the diffraction of light on its spatial lattice. The high cost of a stone is determined not by its size, but by how unique this play of color is. The value of opal depends on the number of rays.

The aborigines have a legend that in very ancient times, spirits took the colors of the rainbow from the rainbow and hid it in opals. The second legend says that the Creator descended to earth and rainbow stones appeared in the places where his foot stepped.
Nowadays, stone mining is carried out only by private entrepreneurs, but this activity still brings the country about 30 million dollars a year.
Previously, opals were mined by hand, using shovels and picks. rock They were extracted with buckets, and along the discovered precious vein they had to crawl on their bellies.

The majority of mines are located at shallow depths. Their main passages were made using special drilling machines that cut tunnels about two meters high. Branches extend from the tunnels. These devices consisted of an engine and gearbox from a small truck. After this, they began to use a machine called “blower”. A high-power compressor was built into it, which sucks in the rock through a pipe placed in the depths. If you turn it off, the barrel opens. This is how a new small hill, or waste heap, appears. At the entrance to the capital of opals you can see a large sign depicting this car.

In the 80s, they decided to build an underground hotel in the city. Since then, there has been an influx of tourists every year. Here you can even go into two underground churches (one of which is Orthodox!).

Among the most visited attractions in the capital of opals is the house of the recently dead person, who was nicknamed Crocodile Harry. He gained popularity due to his countless love affairs and eccentric lifestyle.
Coober Pedy is considered the driest place in Australia. Only 175 millimeters of precipitation falls there per year. This is more than three times less than in European countries. It almost never rains there, which means Coober Pedy is not rich in vegetation. There are no big trees or beautiful flowers. You can find only a few shrubs and plants that retain moisture in their tissues (for example, cacti).
However, such conditions do not prevent local residents from finding entertainment in nature. They love to play golf, but can only do it at night when the heat subsides. For this purpose, there are specially equipped fields with movable grass and spherical flashlights that allow you to see in the dark.
In the city you can go to underground shops, souvenir shops, museums, bars, a jeweler's workshop, and also see cemeteries.

Coober Pedy has a desert climate. Summer time lasts from December to February, and average temperature reaches 30-40°C. With the onset of night it drops sharply (to 20°C). It is very difficult to get used to such changes. Sometimes sand storms rage here. To escape the heat, local residents dig underground apartments for themselves. Many descendants of the first miners decorate the interior of their homes in the “a la naturel” style, which involves covering the walls with a solution of PVA glue. This way you can eliminate dust and, moreover, preserve the natural color and texture of the stone. In these unusual apartments, the toilet and kitchen area are located right at the entrance, because in Coober Pedy there is no sewage system underground. All other rooms are usually dug deeper. Columns are built to support ceilings in large rooms. Their diameter can reach one meter.

Lovers of modern interiors apply plaster to walls and ceilings. Thanks to this design solution, the underground “apartment” looks just like an ordinary one. City residents also prefer to install such a luxury item as an underground swimming pool - a real salvation for those who live in one of the hottest regions of the planet.

The capital of opals has become one of the main points of most routes around Australia for tourists. Of particular interest to visitors is that Coober Pedy itself and its surroundings are considered very photogenic, which is why filmmakers often come here. For example, in 2006, the Australian film Opal Dream was filmed there. In addition, it became the setting for the film “The Black Hole”, and scenes of the movie “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome” were filmed in underground houses.
On the edge of the town is the largest cattle farm on the planet, as well as the famous “Dingo Fence”, stretching for 8,500 kilometers.

Each mound that is visible on the surface is connected to the underground using a shaft. This is the only way to survive in such an unfavorable climate.
Currently, among the residents of Coober Pedy you can find over 45 nationalities, most of which are Greek. Drinking water passes through an artesian well, which was drilled 25 kilometers from the city.
The opal capital of the world does not have a common power grid. Diesel generators are used to produce electricity, and the premises are heated using solar water heating batteries.
From a bird's eye view, this unusual underground city in Australia may surprise you not with the buildings familiar to our eyes, but with rock dumps dotted with thousands of holes dug in the red desert. This is an incredible sight that makes you feel like you are on another planet.

They live underground, grow cacti in their gardens, and play golf at night - this is what life looks like for the inhabitants of a small town in the Australian desert. We are talking about the opal capital of the world - the mining town of Coober Pedy. Residents of a town located in the southern Australian desert, where summer temperatures sometimes exceed 40°C in the shade, have found a simple way to cope with the heat. In their houses, even in the most terrible heat, it is always cool, but not at all because they use air conditioners; moreover, they do not need to wash the windows or hang blinds on them to avoid the prying glances of their neighbors, but all because the residents of Kuber- Pedi build their homes... underground.

Let's take a look into the opal underground city of Coober Pedy.

Most likely, the name of the city is associated with its unusual houses underground. In the Aboriginal language, Koopa Piti, from which Coober Pedy gets its name, means "white man's hole". The city is home to about 1,700 people who are mainly involved in opal mining, and their homes are nothing more than underground “holes” made in sandstone at a depth of 2.5 to 6 meters. (Photo: Les Pullen/South Cape Photography)

He is in South Australia, on the edge of the Great Victoria Desert, in one of the most desolate and sparsely populated places on the continent. At the beginning of the 20th century, mining of precious opals began here, 30% of the world's reserves are concentrated in Coober Pedy. Due to constant heat, drought and frequent sandstorms, miners and their families initially began to settle in dwellings carved into the mountainside - often it was possible to get into the mine directly from home. The temperature in such an “apartment” all year round did not exceed 22 °C, and the level of comfort was not much inferior to traditional “ground” houses - there were bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. But there were no more than two windows - otherwise it would get too hot in the summer.

Due to the lack of underground sewerage, the restroom and kitchen in the houses are located immediately at the entrance, i.e. at ground level. Bedrooms, other rooms and corridors are usually dug deeper. The ceilings in large rooms are supported by columns, the diameter of which reaches up to 1 meter. (Photo: Les Pullen/South Cape Photography)

Building a home in Coober Pedy could even make its owner rich, as it is home to the largest deposit of precious opals. Deposits in Australia, mainly in Coober Pedy, account for 97 percent of the world's production of this mineral. Several years ago, while drilling for an underground hotel, stones worth about 360 thousand dollars were found. (Photo: Les Pullen/South Cape Photography)

Rooftops of Coober Pedy. A familiar sight and distinctive feature of the underground city are ventilation holes protruding from the ground. (Photo: Robyn Brody/flickr.com).

The opal deposit at Coober Pedy was discovered in 1915. A year later, the first miners began to arrive there. It is believed that about 60 percent of Coober Pedy's residents were immigrants from southern and eastern Europe who came there after World War II to work in the mines. For almost a hundred years, this city has been the world's largest producer of high-quality opals. (Photo: Les Pullen/South Cape Photography)

Since the 80s, when an underground hotel was built in Coober Pedy, thousands of tourists visit it every year. One of the most visited places in the city of opals was the house of his recently deceased famous resident nicknamed Crocodile Harry, an eccentric, alcoholic and adventurer who became famous for his many love affairs.Photo: underground church in Coober Pedy. (Photo: Jacqui Barker/flickr.com).

Both the city and its suburbs, for various reasons, are very photogenic, which is why they attract filmmakers there. Coober Pedy was the filming location for the 2006 Australian drama Opal Dream. Scenes for the film “Mad Max” were also filmed in the underground houses of the city. Under the Dome of Thunder." (Photo: donmcl/flickr.com).

The average annual precipitation in Coober Pedy is only 175 mm (in central Europe, for example, about 600 mm). This is one of the driest areas in Australia. There is almost no rain here, so the vegetation is very sparse. Can't find it in the city tall trees, only rare shrubs and cacti grow. (Photo: Rich2012)

Residents, however, are not complaining about the lack of outdoor entertainment. They spend their free time playing golf, although due to the heat they have to play at night. (Photo: Les Pullen/South Cape Photography)

Coober Pedy also houses two underground churches, souvenir shops, a jewelry workshop, a museum and a bar. (Photo: Nicholas Jones/Flickr.com).

Coober Pedy is located 846 kilometers north of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. (Photo: Georgie Sharp/Flickr.com).

Coober Pedy has a desert climate. In summer, from December to February, the average temperature is 30 ° C, and sometimes reaches up to 40 ° C. At night, the temperature drops significantly, to around 20 ° C. Sandstorms are also possible here. (Photo: doctor_k_karen/Flickr.com).

Underground gift shop in Coober Pedy. (Photo: Lodo27/wikimedia).

The townspeople escape the heat by digging their own houses underground. (Photo: Lodo27/wikimedia).

Underground bar in Coober Pedy. (Photo: Les Pullen/South Cape Photography)

These beautiful precious minerals are mined in Coober Pedy, a city called the “opal capital of the world.” (Photo: James St. John/Flickr.com).

Some descendants of miners prefer to decorate their underground houses “a la naturel” - they cover the walls and ceiling with PVA solution to get rid of dust, while preserving the natural color and texture of natural stone. Supporters modern solutions In the interior, the walls and ceiling are covered with plaster, after which the underground dwelling becomes almost indistinguishable from an ordinary one. Both of them do not refuse such a pleasant little thing as an underground swimming pool - in one of the hottest places on the planet this is a particularly pleasant “luxury”.

In addition to housing, Coober Pedy has underground shops and museums, galleries and workshops, restaurants and a hotel, a cemetery and churches (including an Orthodox one!). But there are few trees and flowers here - only cacti and other succulents can withstand the hot, arid climate of these places. Despite this. The city has golf courses with rolling greens.

Coober Pedy is a regular stop on many tourist routes around Australia. Interest in the underground city is fueled by the fact that films such as Mad Max 3: Beyond Thunderdome, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and The Black Hole were filmed in Coober Pedy. And on the edge of the Opal Capital of the World is the world's largest cattle farm and the well-known 8,500-kilometre Dingo Fence.

The city is famous for its opals; it is the capital of the opal stone, cast in all the colors of the rainbow. Opal mining dates back just under 100 years, and its deposits were accidentally discovered while searching for water in 1915. Noble opal is distinguished by a rainbow play of colors, the reason for which is the diffraction of light on a spatial lattice and its value is determined not by its size, but by the unique play of color. The more rays, the more expensive the opal. One of the Aboriginal legends says that “long ago, spirits stole all the colors from the rainbow and put them in a stone - opal”, according to another - that the Creator came down from heaven to earth and where his foot stepped, stones appeared, shimmering with all colors rainbows. Opal mining is carried out only by private entrepreneurs. However, this industry brings about $30 million annually to the Australian economy.

The Coober Pedy region is one of the driest, most deserted and sparsely populated areas in Australia. On average, only about 150 mm falls per year. precipitation, and very large differences between day and night temperatures.

If you happen to fly over Coober Pedy, you will not see the buildings we are accustomed to, but only rock dumps with a thousand holes and mounds against the backdrop of a rocky red desert, which creates an unearthly landscape that will stun the imagination. Each cone-mound with a hole in the middle, visible on the surface, is connected by a shaft to the underground world.

Even the first settlers realized that due to unfavorable weather conditions, when the earth is heated by the sun during the day and the heat on the surface reaches 40 degrees Celsius, and at night the temperature drops sharply to 20 degrees (and sandstorms are also possible) - you can live underground in mine shafts after mining opals. The constant temperature of underground houses is around +22-24 degrees at any time of the year. Today, the city is home to more than 45 nationalities, but the majority are Greek. The population of the city is 1,695 people.

Water comes from a drilled site 25 km away. artesian well from the city and relatively expensive. There is no public power grid in Coober Pedy. Electricity is produced by diesel generators, and heating is provided by solar water heating panels. At night, when the heat subsides, residents play golf with glow-in-the-dark balls.

Previously, opal mining was carried out manually - with picks, shovels, and the rock was pulled out in buckets until an opal vein was found, along which they then crawled on their bellies. Almost all the mines are shallow and the main passages in them are made by drilling machines that break through horizontal tunnels the height of a man and from there are branches in different directions. These are practically homemade devices - the engine and gearbox from a small truck. Then the so-called “blower” is used - a machine with a powerful compressor installed on it, which, through a pipe lowered into the mine, like a vacuum cleaner, sucks rock and boulders to the surface, and when the compressor is turned off, the barrel opens: a new mini-hill is obtained - a waste heap.

At the entrance to the city there is a huge sign with a blower machine.

We invite you to look underground and visit the extraordinary underground city of Coober Pedy, where about 2 thousand people currently live.

At first, when you find yourself on these sun-baked red plains of Australia and see an absolutely “clean” landscape that is not particularly rich in buildings, it seems that the place is completely lifeless. But in fact, here is a stunning, mysterious town called Coober Pedy.

And what makes it special is the fact that this city is located underground.

There are no trees here, and the sun bakes with merciless force, but underground there are many kilometers of tunnels and rooms furnished as in ordinary residential buildings.

However, there is also accommodation for tourists who come here. From this corridor the doors lead directly to the guest rooms.

The locals settled here quite comfortably. Some houses are only half underground, which only adds to their uniqueness. It is worth noting that in terms of comfort they are in no way inferior to ordinary modern houses.

The history of the original city began in 1915, when a father and son found themselves here while traveling in search of gold.

They didn’t find gold here, but they did find beautiful opals, which quickly gained no less popularity.

The miners who came here could not withstand the high temperatures of the local climate and therefore built their houses not above the ground, but right between the mines.

They began to dig long tunnels, so over time about 1,500 dugout houses appeared in Coober Pedy.

In the modern world, Coober Pedy has long become the main supplier of opals. However, people come here no longer to look at precious stones, but to see the strange dugouts, the homes of the people living here.

The city's name means "white man's hole", an expression that appeared here in the 1920s.

In addition to the mines, hotels and houses, there is also a beautiful church underground in Coober Pedy.

And also an underground bookstore.

And an underground jewelry store offering charming opal mined in the mines nearby.

Of course, you should also visit the underground bar for a drink with friends.

And then go upstairs and play golf on a platform specially equipped for this.

Finally I got to the photos of the city of Coober Pedy. We passed it earlier when we were still traveling around the state of South Australia.

To virtually walk around the city, click on the green “View Larger Map” in the lower left corner. When the map opens, drag the little yellow man onto the city streets.

This amazing city. We have very pleasant memories of him.

Coober Pedy is called the "opal capital of the world" and is an Aboriginal word for "white man in the hole."

Up to 90% of the world's precious opal production comes from Australia, and about three-quarters of this comes from the state of South Australia.

At first glance, Coober Pedy is not much different from other mining towns. Dirt roads cross the entire territory and waste rock dumps are visible. But there are no towers or lifts over the mines and there are no buildings.

Strange round mounds with a hole in the middle give the impression of a volcanic area dotted with small ash cones.

Each of these small hills is connected by a shaft to an entire underground world.

The soft, sandstone rocks of the desert are not at all difficult to dig with a pick and shovel, although explosives are also used. Most opals are found at depths of up to 24 m, but many workings are much shallower. Each miner is allocated a small area in which he works. The technique is mostly traditional. A prospector digs up his plot of land, hoping to find a large vein that will bring him a fortune.

In addition to this beautiful mineral, the houses of local residents, dugouts - underground dwellings in which natural temperature control is carried out - are also extremely popular.

Even the first prospectors realized that they could settle relatively comfortably underground, in dwellings that cost almost nothing. As for their successors, their families live in modern underground comfort. Many of their houses are very large and simply luxurious, and some even have underground swimming pools.

These areas are for underground dwellings. Such areas are located on the outskirts of the city. You can buy and dig your own house or motel. During the season, all motels and hotels here are occupied. As everywhere else, you need to book a room in advance.

It should be noted that there is absolutely no water in Coober Pedy - no matter how much they drilled, they have not yet reached the water. When you consider that this is one of the rainiest regions of Australia, it becomes clear that water was initially very expensive because it was transported many kilometers by pack animals, mainly camels. Currently, there is running water, but water is still relatively expensive ($5 per 1000 liters).

Coober Pedy is one of the hottest places on the planet. And in an underground house the temperature stays at 22-26 degrees all year round. We were invited to visit one of these houses. 60% of the city's population live underground.

The owner of the house is named George Russell. He's the owner tourist park Oasis

A good person, very sociable. Gave him a decent discount when we stayed at his motel the first night.

The next morning, George showed his house.

This is the living room.

Indeed, a very pleasant coolness after the scorching sun.

This is a guest house. On the right along the stairs, there is a kitchen and 2 rooms of the owner of the house.

To the left of the stairs are 3 guest bedrooms, a toilet and a bathroom.

All underground rooms are spacious, with high ceilings and well ventilated.

Very cozy and comfortable.

I wanted to have a house like this here. Sometimes we come to live in absolute silence, without radio and electromagnetic waves that surround us everywhere.

The town has not only underground houses, but also numerous underground hotels, restaurants, shops and even churches.

In 1988, the world's first underground hotel was inaugurated. This hotel became so popular that many local residents began to open large and small motels throughout the city, as well as guest houses with 3 and 4 bedrooms.

One of the first underground motels that we saw was “Radeka down under motel”, it is located on main street cities.

This is a mid-range motel.

It’s 11 am, and it’s already +36.

We were met by the owner of the Martin Motel.

A very colorful guy.

There are rooms that are located in the rock, and rooms that are 6.5 meters underground.

We chose a room, of course, underground. It's much more interesting to sleep there.

It was an active opal mine until the 1960s.

And in the mid-80s, the mine was transformed into an underground complex - a motel.

The cost of living in a motel starts from $32.

This is our number. We rented it for $70 (they gave us a $10 discount).

It's very simple. Everything you need is here. The very fact that you sleep underground already sounds unusual. And most importantly, it’s cooler here than at the top. And this was one of the reasons why we went underground.

Overall, I slept well in this room. The only inconvenience is strong audibility. You can hear all the neighbors. Therefore, those with nerves of iron and good sleep should settle here. Gabriel, for example, slept well. And I listened half the night to my neighbor’s snoring and the crying of a small child. So, if anyone needs to sleep, live up in the rock.

These rooms are mainly used by students who do not have money for a room, or lonely tired travelers who quickly fall asleep and hear nothing.

And you can move into this room big company, and remember the pioneer camp. It would be fun.

To be continued…

To view photos in large size, click on them 1-2 times.

In which city do people live underground? and got the best answer

Answer from Dark Knight[guru]
Coober Pedy (eng. Coober Pedy) (28°56′S 134°45′E / 28.933333°S 134.75°E (G) -28.933333, 134.75) - a small town with a population of 3,500 people in South Australia, 846 km north of Adelaide along the Stuart Highway. The city is also known as World capital opals, because here is one of the richest deposits of opals, about 30% of the world's reserves are concentrated here. Common opal was first discovered in Australia in 1849 during the gold rush, but fine opal was not discovered in Coober Pedy until 1915. The name Coober Pedy is translated from the Australian Aboriginal language (kupa piti), as “white man’s hole” or “white man underground”.
Situated in outback Australia hundreds of kilometers from the nearest settlement, Coober Pedy is located in the Stuart Ranges of South Australia, at the eastern edge of the Great Victoria Desert, where railway from to Alice Springs. Due to the harsh temperature regime and the prevailing mining industry, people constantly live underground in caves, in mine shafts left after mining. Standard home cave bedrooms with a lounge, kitchen and bathroom are located in caves drilled inside the mountain, similar to houses on the surface. This maintains a constant optimal temperature, while on the surface it reaches 40 degrees Celsius (maximum 55 degrees), at which temperature many household appliances become unusable. But relative humidity does not often reach 20% on hot days.
Much of Coober Pedy's attraction lies within the mines, such as the cemetery and underground churches. The first trees that could be seen in the city were welded from pieces of iron. The city has local golf courses with movable grass and golfers lay out small pieces of "turf" around for tee shots.
Coober Pedy is one of many tourist routes across Australia. Coober Pedy was the backdrop for films such as Mad Max 3: Beyond Thunderdome, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Pitch Black. The second season of The Amazing Race was held in Coober Pedy. In the Coober Pedy area, around 2012, they are going to conduct an experimental exercise for an expedition to Mars. Also on the edge of the city is the world's largest cattle farm and the world's longest "Aussie" fence.
With funds from the development of opals, about 30 million dollars a year, city residents could annually buy the world's largest Ruslan aircraft, which could accommodate the entire population of Coober Pedy [source?].
An article about a city underground in 1927 and the people living in it like rabbits contributed to the appearance in 1937 of J. R. R. Tolkien's second most popular literary work after the Bible, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings [source?] .

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