Coober Pedy, halfway to Northern Territory from South South Australia, is the world`s largest opal mining field for white opals. The relentlessly hot climate (sometimes soaring to 50 degrees C or 122 degrees F) has forced many of the inhabitants to live UNDERGROUND. At first glance, the town looks like a hard-hit battlefield. The almost tree-less terrain consists of hundred of mounds of upturned earth and abandoned mines where fossickers have rummaged through the landscape in search of precious gems. But beneath the surface there are homes, shops, restaurants and even churches ! Definately not the place for claustrophobics. [ Please wait for Java applets and image to load. Click with left mouse button to stop motion. Hold down left mouse button for manual panning ]. Copyright 2001 www.UpFromAustralia.com |
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