Opal mine sites—especially around places like Coober Pedy, Andamooka, or Lightning Ridge—can be very dangerous if you’re not cautious. ⚠️ Physical Hazards • Unmarked vertical shafts – Some are hundreds of feet deep, hidden by scrub, or covered by thin soil that can collapse underfoot. • Collapsed tunnels – Abandoned mines can cave in without warning. • Loose ground – The sandy or dusty surface can give way suddenly. #OpalMines #CooberPedy #OutbackAustralia #MiningSafety #StaySafe #TravelSmart #O

Inside The Australian City Where Everyone Lives Underground

The Underground House A 1960s Opal Mine-Conversion

Coober Pedy is a small desert town in Australia where the entire population lives in underground homes. With outside temperatures hovering over 100 degrees, residents made permanent homes in the cooler temperatures of old mine shafts.