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Australia: At Coober Pedy, underground life escapes the heat
Australia: At Coober Pedy, underground life escapes the heat
(France 2)
In Australia, a small town called Coober Pedy, located in the middle of the desert, faces temperatures close to 50°C. Therefore, people started living underground, at a depth of 30 meters. They only come to the surface after dark to take advantage of the cold.
In the heart of Australia, in the middle of the desert, the city of Coober Pedy rose from the ground. This mining town is rich in opal, which for more than a century has attracted dreamers to make their fortunes. In this city, it is very hot (50°C in summer) and people live underground. For 14 years, opal researcher Markus Hammermeister excavated himself in a 180 m2 cave house.
Over 100 years of life underground
Today, in Coober Bed, 60% of the population lives underground due to the heat. The town has an underground church, shops and a bar. In Coober Pedy, the idea of living underground dates back to the early 20th century. One of the first troglodyte houses a museum. It was excavated in 1916 and is preserved intact.
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