Banished sun: the town of Coober Pedy where people live underground

In southern Australia, Victoria desert, is the mining town of Coober Pedy, which is translated from the aboriginal language means "white man hole". In these parts of the 50-degree heat is the norm. As regular sand storms. So the citizens (more than two thousand people) live in homes dug in the ground. Moreover, in the underground part of the city is possible, without rising to the surface, to the shops, take a dip in the pool, go to Church or even cemetery.

Begs the question: what do people there generally forgot? And they have forgotten opals and very actively looking for them. In the bowels of the earth in the vicinity of Coober Pedy is concentrated almost a third of the world reserves of this mineral, which is very appreciated by jewelers.

Mining opals launched here in 1915, and people quickly realized that to escape from the heat can be elementary not to appear on the surface and live in the excavated mines. In the underground dwelling, the optimum temperature is maintained by itself — all year round about 22 degrees Celsius.

The exposition of the local Museum of the history of opal mining.

Currently digging mine on campus is prohibited, so many residents moved to traditional house with all amenities. And protect air conditioners from damage as the Apple of his eye. But many of those who remain faithful to the traditions. Their "dugouts" quite comfortable — electricity, water, Sewerage.

In Coober Pedy, two common types of underground apartment design: natural and modern. With all natural finishes is limited to the walls and ceiling are covered with a special solution so that they didn't air with dust.

And if the owners choose the modern variant, after formation of the room its sheathe dry plaster. Looks almost like a normal apartment, but no Windows.

The decoration of some houses is rather rich — selling opals brings good money.

Over the years the locals built a whole underground city. In addition to the residential part, branching corridors leading to the gallery of shops, restaurant, bar, pool, churches, a cemetery...

It is not surprising that this quaint town attracts many tourists. Every year in Coober Pedy attracts thousands of fans of exotic. Moreover, getting here is easy: there is a railway Adelaide — Alice springs. Of course, for tourists opened a Museum, a hotel and a souvenir shop.

On the background of Coober Pedy often make films. For example, there were shooting "Mad max 3" with Mel Gibson and "the Black hole" — the first part of the series about the adventures of Riddick. And in 2012, near the city of NASA experts conducted training expedition to Mars.

The spacecraft, which remained after the filming of "Black hole".