They Thought This Small Town Was Abandoned... But Then They Heard Strange Noises From Below

#1 They Don't Call It Down Under For Nothing

On the surface, the small town looks pretty deserted. With just a few hotels and, randomly, a golf course dotted around, a few gift shops, the place has the air of an abandoned tourist town. The problem is that it's in the middle of nowhere.

#2 Welcome To Coober Pety

Coober Pedy, Australia, just north of Adelaide, is just your average outback town. It's in the middle of nowhere and relies heavily on tourists to sustain its economy. But there's something different about this small town that not many of the tourists realized before because they didn't know what to look for.

#3 You Have To Look Closely To Find The Townsfolk

The surface of the town is dotted with interesting art projects and other sights. A few mobile homes, a museum, a diner, and even a big 'Welcome" billboard. But you won't see many people in Coober Pedy. At least not at first sight. In fact, around 3,500 people live there. It's just that most of them (60 percent) live below the surface in homes burrowed out of caves.

#4 Originally An Opal Mine The Town Now Has 2 Churches Underground

Coober Pedy started as an opal mining town in 1915. 90% of the world's opal comes from the area. However, the mines are all abandoned as far as mining goes, and in fact, have been turned into an underground town with churches, stores, a bar, casino, pool, and around 175 homes.

#5 Temperatures Drove The Original Dwellers Below The Surface

When the opal miners who flocked there to mine the stones discovered life above ground was pretty tough because of the scorching temperatures. In the summer, the temperature often exceeds 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), they decided it was time to make use of the 'dugouts' they had created by moving into them.

#6 The Temperature Is Kept Regulated And There Is Ventilation

The entrances to all the buildings are at ground level and all the rooms are ventilated with a vertical shaft sticking out through the hills, keeping the temperature regulated. Also, the homes aren't the deep caves that people imagine. They are actually dug into the hillsides.

The entrance is usually at street level, and the rooms extend towards the back then goes into the hills.

#7 All The New Digging Is Done By Machines Instead Of By Hand

100 years ago the dugouts were all hand dug. Today, they use machines for that. The tunneling machines leave an attractive pattern on the walls, and the sandstone itself has beautiful maroon and rose coloured swirls. The carved out areas are then coated with a wash that prevents dust and leakage, if there ever was any in the desert.

#8 Solar Panels & Generators Provide Electricity

The climate underground is also perfect. Whether it's below zero or above 50°C outside, the temperature in an underground home is always perfect. And so is the humidity, which is really pleasant compared to the bone dry air in the desert outside. They also have electricity provided by generators and solar panels, which is great for patrons at the local bar or the casino.

#9 Most Villagers Seldomly Travel Above Ground Because Of The Temperatures And Terrain

People stay inside at night too, since the temperature drops to below freezing, and the lack of light makes the terrain treacherous. With all of its cut away entrances and mine shaft openings the town's surface area can be dangerous in the extreme dark of night.

#10 The Main Attraction In Town Is The Town Itself

Though the town looks like it is straight out of a horror or science fiction movie, it is actually thriving both above and below ground. The main attraction there in the last 10 years? Tourism. The town hosts not one, but two B&B hotels and also gives daily tours of the underground homes and attractions.

#11 A Deserted Desert Town Is Actually A Booming Underground Slice Of Artistic History

If you're claustrophobic, you may not feel at ease in Coober Pedy, but it's larger underground than one could imagine and tourists and villagers say they love the atmosphere. Who would ever have thought that a town that looks so ordinary from a distance could be so incredible up close?