Australia | Coober Pedy, South Australian Opal Mines

Australia's Great Artesian Basin, and the town of (Coober Pedy) are located along the Stuart Highway, south-east of Alice Springs, deep in the Australian Outback. The largest opal mining region in the world, Coober Pedy ("a gem of a town") is famous for its opal mines such as the Umoona mine just outside of town. 90% of the world's opal production comes from the Andamooka Stuart Creek Opal Fields, Coober Pedy, Mintabie, and Yowah.

The other-worldly surface of the earth at the Coober Pedy Umoona mines is man-made, with thousands of "Kupa piti," or "white man's hole in the ground" covering the landscape, as far as the eye can see.

For additional Information go to: Coober Pedy (Umoona)