The Australian town of Coober Pedy has a population of around 2,000 and is famous for two things. Firstly, the town is known as the opal capital of the world because of the quantity of precious gems that are mined there. Secondly, and the reason for this gallery, Coober Pedy is renowned for it’s underground residences, mostly in refurbished mines.


The severe desert climate made a lot of residents move to live underground, in caves. In summer temperatures on the surface can reach 40-50 degrees Celsius (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit). A cave home usually has three bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom and lounge that are excavated out of the rock in the hillsides. Such homes don’t require air-conditioning, because they remain at a constant temperature.

Continue Reading...