Kuber Pedy Webcam. Museum at the opal mine of Umuna
In the South Australian outback, halfway between Adelaide and Alice Springs, is the town of Coober Pedy. This desert town is known for its opal mines and its occasional appearance in Hollywood movies. And here's the main reason for its fame: most of its population lives underground.
The history of Coober Pedy is tied to the history of the local aborigines. It is located in an area that is considered the traditional land of the Arabana people. Yankunitjayara and Kokata also belong to its ceremonial lands.
The first European explorer to visit the area was John MacDougall Stuart. He visited here in 1858. However, even after his explorations the area remained a blank spot for Western scientists. That changed in 1915, when 14-year-old Ville Hutchison discovered opal here on a research trip with his father.
In 1916 a demographic boom began in the area as miners began to arrive. Interestingly, many of the first settlers were former World War I soldiers who became experts in excavation after spending time in the trenches. Soon there were 50 different nationalities living in the area.
After years of excavation, by 1999 there were more than 250,000 mine entrances in the surrounding area. Opal mines became so numerous that local authorities passed a law restricting mining operations. The deposit has since become a mecca for artisanal miners and treasure hunters who try to get mining permits.
Seventy percent of the world's opal production is associated with Coober Pedy, which has earned the town the title "opal capital of the world." Most of its residents are associated with the stone trade, working in more than 70 opal deposits.
Today, tourism contributes as much to the city's economy as the mining industry. Every year, thousands of tourists make the trip down the Stewart Highway to explore local attractions.
These include mines, a cemetery and extravagant underground churches, including the Serbian Orthodox Church with intricately carved walls.
