New Delhi: Known as the Opal capital of the world, Coober Pedy is a town in South Australia.The interesting fact about this place is people live underground.This cavernous community was built by miners sheltering from harsh daytime temperatures, and now includes an underground church, museums, potteries, shops, an art gallery and a hotel; residents emerge at night to play golf on grassless courses using illuminated balls.The town has a population of 3,500 and over 45 different nationalities. Coober Pedy, the name comes from aboriginal local Aboriginal term kupa-piti, which means white man's hole. The Opal gem was discovered by a European explorer Wille Hutchison in 1915. After this incident, mining started in the area. By 1999, more than 250,000 mine shaft were dug. Due to the scorching summer, miners preferred to live in caves underground called dugouts.They are like a normal home with bedroom, kitchen, lounge and bathroom. The temperature inside the dugout is constant, an advantage when the outside temperature crosses more than 40 degree Celsius.The place has become a great tourist destination. Underground art gallery, Opal mine and museum, Catacomb church, golf course where people play at night are some of the attractions for hoards of people flocking towards this city. Fayes underground home is also a popular attraction, built by three women 30 years ago. The Catacomb Church, built in 1977 is cut out of sandstone in shape of a cross.
