Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy, population 3,500, is a small town in South Australia, 846 kilometres north of Adelaide. It is self-described as the "opal capital of the world" and is indeed the largest source of this precious stone. Located in the Australian outback, it is hundreds of kilometres from the nearest settlement. The harsh summer temperatures and the dominant industry mean that most residents live and work underground. A standard 3 bedroom home with lounge, kitchen and bathroom can be drilled out of the rock in the hillside for a similar price to a house on the surface.

Some of the interesting attractions in Coober Pedy include the mines, the graveyard and the churches. The first tree ever seen in the town was welded together from scrap iron. The golf course is completely free of grass and golfers take a small piece of "turf" around to use for teeing off.

It is a popular tourist destination and the countryside around Coober Pedy has featured as a backdrop to some movies including Mad Max Beyond The Thunderdome[?] and Priscilla Queen of the Desert[?].

External link

• Coober Pedy (http://www.opalcapitaloftheworld.com.au/)