This Is the Town Where People Live Underground – Coober Pedy | World's Most Extreme

Summary

Kuberpedi, known as the opal mining capital of the world, is home to unique underground living. With temperatures ranging from 1 to 45 degrees, residents prefer the constant 22-degree underground climate. The town features over a hundred subterranean homes, churches, and even solar and wind-powered energy. Despite the risk of collapsing mines and accidental encounters with neighbors, the town's history of opal mining has shaped its distinctive way of life, offering both comfort and the unexpected discovery of precious opals.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Kuberpedi is known as the opal mining capital of the world, with a unique underground living culture.
• 🏘️ Approximately half of Kuberpedi's 2,500 residents live in subterranean homes carved into the sandstone bedrock.
• 🏠 These underground homes provide a constant temperature of around 22 degrees Celsius, offering respite from extreme weather conditions.
• 🧱 The town's underground dwellings are not only comfortable but also low impact, with many powered by solar and wind energy sources.
• 🏡 Residents have the freedom to design and expand their homes without many regulations, sometimes leading to accidental connections with neighbors.
• 💸 The potential for discovering opals while expanding homes is a unique benefit, as exemplified by a hotel's extension that uncovered a valuable opal deposit.
• 🔨 The tradition of underground living began over a century ago with miners who slept in their mine shafts.
• 🏞️ Despite the decline of the opal mining industry, the legacy of digging and underground living persists in Kuberpedi's landscape.
• ⚠️ The town is characterized by millions of holes in the ground, some of which are deep and pose risks of collapse.
• 🏡 The underground lifestyle has become an integral part of Kuberpedi's identity, even as the town evolves with the times.

Q & A

What is the significance of Kuberpedi in the world of opal mining?

Kuberpedi is known as the opal mining capital of the world, indicating its importance in the global opal mining industry.

Why do half of Kuberpedi's residents live underground?

Residents live underground to escape the outback's brutal climate, which includes extreme temperatures ranging from 1 degree in winter to 45 degrees in summer.

How many subterranean homes are there in Kuberpedi?

There are over a hundred subterranean homes dug into the sandstone bedrock in Kuberpedi.

What is the constant temperature maintained in the underground homes?

The underground homes maintain a comfortable constant temperature of around 22 degrees Celsius throughout the year.

How do ventilation shafts contribute to the underground living conditions in Kuberpedi?

Ventilation shafts allow air to circulate through the dugouts, preventing them from becoming stuffy and ensuring a comfortable living environment.

What is a unique aspect of building homes in Kuberpedi?

There are no rules and regulations on how homes are designed in Kuberpedi, allowing residents to build and extend their homes as they like.

What unexpected benefit can come from building an extension to an underground home?

Building an extension can lead to the discovery of opal deposits, as seen with a hotel that found a valuable pocket of shells during an extension, increasing their assets by nearly 1.5 million.

How did the idea of living underground in Kuberpedi start?

The idea started over a hundred years ago with miners who slept in their mine shafts while searching for opals.

What is the estimated number of holes dug for opal mining in Kuberpedi?

It is estimated that there are over two million holes dug for opal mining in Kuberpedi.

What is the potential danger associated with the numerous holes in Kuberpedi?

There is a risk of falling into the holes, which can be 80 to 100 feet deep, and there have been rumors of people falling into them.

How has the opal mining industry changed in Kuberpedi over the years?

The opal mining industry has dwindled in recent years, being surpassed by tourism, but it has left a significant mark on the landscape with numerous holes and the unique underground living style.