Holy mole-y! Inside the Australian Outback town that's UNDERGROUND (and comes complete with a church, bar and pool hall)
- Coober Pedy residents have built their very own homes and businesses into the chalky clay rocks
- The mining town has underground churches, museums, art galleries, a bar and even hotels
- There are 3,500 residents living in dugouts, and the region supplies the world with gem-quality opal
Could this be one of the world's most unusual towns?
Welcome to Coober Pedy, where 3,500 Australians live in caves dug out of the rock to escape the blistering heat above - with temperatures known to reach a staggering 50 degrees.
The underground mining region, located in the outback of South Australia's far north, comes complete with churches, museums, art galleries, a bar and even hotels for travellers to get a taste of the underground life first-hand.
There are 3,500 residents living in Coomber Pedy's dugouts or mud caves, with all the amenities of a home above ground
Underneath the moon-like landscape, residents are living in dugouts or mud caves, with all amenities of a home above ground, including walk-in closets, modern kitchens and televisions.
The culturally diverse town is known for supplying the world with the majority of gem quality opal, which is their main source of income.
Living in one of the world's most inhospitable regions, the stony desert has climbed to extreme temperatures of up to 50 degrees in the day and dropping to zero at night.
The town water supply comes from an underground source 24 kilometres north of the town, situated 840 kilometres north of Adelaide.
The curious underground haven, located in the outback of South Australia's far north, comes complete with a pool hall
It was built for residents to escape the blistering heat above - where temperatures reach a staggering 50 degrees - pictured, a guest bedroom
The beautifully carved underground Serbian Orthodox Church is one of five underground churches in Coober Pedy
Signalling its name and nodding to its industrial roots, a mining vehicle on stilts welcomes visitors to the arid settlement
Around 150million years ago, Coober Pedy was under the ocean but after the water receded, the sandy silica minerals from the seabed flowed into the rocky cracks and solidified over time, which turned into multi-coloured gem stone opals.
The mining town is home to the world's hottest golf course but to make up for the arid conditions, players carry their own patch of artificial grass to minimise damage to their clubs on the parched, stony ground.
In 1915, miners began living underground in dugouts to escape the heat of summer and winter's cool desert nights.
The town's water supply comes from an underground source 24 kilometres north of the town - pictured, an abandoned dwelling
With no civilization for as far as the eye can see, the moon-like landscape is located 840 kilometres north of the city of Adelaide
Another of the town's underground churches, this one named the St Peter and Paul Catholic Church, and decorated with statues in the walls' hollows
Living in one of the world's most inhospitable regions, the stony desert above has climbed to extreme temperatures of up to 50 degrees in the day and dropping to zero at night - pictured, a meal served in on the enclaves
Another attraction to the town includes the annual events of the Coober Pedy OZ Mineral Races, Queen of the Desert Festival and the Opal Festival.
Every year, residents come together to celebrate the end of summer with raffles, parades and outdoor activities for all ages.
Coober Pedy has attracted many film-makers and appeared in movies including Fire in the Stone, Pitch black, Red Planet as well as an episode appearance in reality TV series Amazing Race.
Coober Pedy even has its own theatre, complete with a sign at its entrance which only highlights how unusual a place it is
Judy McLean displays the dimly-lit subterranean bar and lounge of Faye's underground house, pictured in July 2005
The culturally diverse town is known for supplying the world with the majority of gem quality opal, which is their main source of income - pictured, an alternative view of the bar
Around 150 million years ago, Coober Pedy was under the ocean but after the water receded, the sandy silica minerals from the seabed flowed into the rocky cracks and solidified over time - pictured, a bedroom
It looks more like the setting for the Flintstones that a thriving real-world community, with its round walls and sparse furnishings
Miners began living underground back in 1915 to escape the heat of summer and the winter's cool desert nights
Business opportunities are limited in Coober Pedy, but intrigued tourists do visit the region, and there's even a Comfort Inn overground
A general view of the opal fields in the town of Coober Pedy, where it's recognised as the largest producer of opal in the world
A techni-coloured boomerang sign attracts tourists to an underground art gallery, where visitors can by souvenirs and opal
The mining town is home to the world's hottest golf course - and despite the sign, there's clearly not much grass to go around
Golfers complete their round at the Coober Pedy Opal Fields Golf Course in June 2005
To make up the arid conditions, players carry their own patch of artificial grass to minimise damage to their clubs on the parched, stony ground
Mijo Markovic tees off for a round of golf on one of the world's most offbeat golf courses in July 2005
The Coober Pedy Golf Course has been awarded reciprocal rights for its members to the 'home of golf', St Andrews in Scotland - it is the first time since 1857 that St Andrews has bestowed this honour on another golf course
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by deputy dawg 48