Coober Pedy

Known as the opal capital of the world, Coober Pedy is a tiny town in northern South Australia, far north of Adelaide on the Stuart Highway. Precious opals have been mined here in quantity, and the extreme daytime heat led residents to build underground homes called dugouts — a way of life that defines the town's character. The name derives from a Kokatha-Barngarla term meaning "whitefellas' hole," though the local Aboriginal community adopted the name Umoona, meaning "long life."

• Population2,106
• Nearest water from center 0.4 km0.3 mi
• Nearest mountain from center 22 km14 mi