Small Town Chooses To Live Underground For The Most Unusual Purpose
Just like plants, human beings need sun, air, and water to thrive, and none of those things exist underground. But these hurdles didn't stop the residents of Coober Pedy, Australia, from ditching life on the surface to dwell subterranean. For years, the entire community has been residing in dwellings deep below the ground. A glimpse at the thriving town makes it obvious why these folks Down Under moved down under.
Home, Sweet Home
Being neighbors with worms and surviving off artificial light sounds like the newest form of torture, but for the people of Coober Pedy, these are the makings of their beautiful home.
A Trove Of Jewels
This small Australian village is known for its abundance of opals, a beautiful (not to mention quite valuable) iridescent gemstone said to signify love and passion. Coober Pedy is so chocked full of them it's even been dubbed the "Opal Capital of the World."
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Life Before The Caves
In a land lush with precious stones, the Aboriginal people lived off native crops, built thriving communities, and, quite notably, were not living underground. The 20th century brought changes.
The First Discovery
The town’s name wasn’t even officially established until the first outsiders arrived. It was only when Willie Hutchinson first discovered an opal there that other miners began moving to the area in droves.
