Saturday 10 October 2015

Coober Pedy SA

How unique is Coober Pedy.  You would have to see it to believe it.
Remember the [Airstrip post] ?
Remember [Water] at Coober Pedy ?

Coober Pedy is a town you either love or hate.  It's isolated and distance is only a number to the locals.  It's about 846 km north of Adelaide SA.

About 150 million years ago Coober Pedy was covered by the ocean, when the water receded, the sand silica minerals from the seabed flowed into the rocky crack and cavities and solidified over time into multi-coloured gem stone - OPAL!   (No I didn't buy one)

Many of the houses are underground, have chimneys out the top of the hills - these are air vents.

The first thing you do when going into a town is look for the Caravan Park.  We chose the first one we came to as we had stayed here before.
It was filling up with Caravans, campers and so on, and we ended up being packed in like sardines.



Near empty and no grass, to be a common thing from now on.


Getting full.


As you get closer to Coober Pedy you come across these mounds of dirt/gravel.  They are mines searching for OPALS.


A sign to remind you of what goes on.


Around 150 million years ago, Coober Pedy was covered by ocean - and when the water receded, the sandy silica minerals from the seabed flowed into the rocky cracks and cavities and solidified over time into multi-coloured gem-stone - opal. - See more at: http://www.cooberpedy.net/#sthash.6eKAoGQW.dpuf
Around 150 million years ago, Coober Pedy was covered by ocean - and when the water receded, the sandy silica minerals from the seabed flowed into the rocky cracks and cavities and solidified over time into multi-coloured gem-stone - opal. - See more at: http://www.cooberpedy.net/#sthash.6eKAoGQW.dpuf

25 comments:

  1. Fabulous truck mounted on posts, and I would have bought an opal, they are so pretty and delicate. Thanks for the photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Truck does look rather nice right up there on the pole. No, no opals did we buy..

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  2. Only the real hardy types live in Coober Pedy.
    The opals are some, if not, the best in the World.
    I'd want to be very successful in opal mining to live there, Hosa!
    Still it is a great tourist attraction - so good for the non-miners
    who accommodate and supply food/drink for the visitors - they need
    very cent they can get, so I wouldn't go about whinging about the high
    prices in the shops etc. That would be something that you and "shanks"
    would understand.
    Everything would be trucked in and that costs money!
    Great report, Margaret.
    Only two days to go now - I can almost taste those Terrigal oysters and
    prawns already - ha ha.
    Cheers
    Colin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So many people complained about the high price of everyday items in isolated areas. We didn't because it's true what you say, this we knew and know from previous trips in our land.

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  3. Not a place I could live. Not so much the isolation, but the heat. And the lack of green. I don't think my claustrophobia would like living underground either.
    Mining, whatever the mineral sought for, is not for sissies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have to be tough and love this place to live there...I could for awhile.

      Delete
  4. Are you bringing home some opals, they are very beautiful.
    Merle.............

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are lovely, so many colours. No, didn't bring any home :)

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  5. that sign sure illustrates the point, a scary thought

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovely photos, and I know I would be miserable living in a desert type place, with lack of green, and way too hot. I would miss the trees, the birds singing, the green grass. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We take those things you mentioned for granted, Coober Pedy people may not have seen green grass, birds singing for many year...

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  7. hm, woudln't go of the road if I see a sign like that.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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  8. Margaret it is a really amazing place and so isolated.. But masterpiece of nature

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  9. Besides of the lack of vegetation it is noteworthy, the reddish color from the earth.

    Kisses

    ReplyDelete
  10. I couldn't possibly go to Coober Pedy and NOT come home with an opal.
    I really would like to explore one of those underground homes, I believe some of the accommodation is underground too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had to be strong and not buy an opal....Winton always had lovely ones.

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  11. What a fantastic sign. Every town should have one highlighting the essence of the place. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They should. There were more sign about in the right places, saying the same thing..

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