16 Extreme Places People Actually Live

Coober Pedy, Australia

If you’ve ever wondered, this is how far humans will go to find precious stones.

Photo: Graeme Churchard

Established in 1915 after a few settlers struck gold (or opal rather), Coober Pedy became widely known for its subterranean architecture. The Australian Outback where Coober Pedy is located commonly reaches temperatures of 125 degrees fahrenheit, so the settlers decided to throw in the towel and live underground. Named after the local Aboriginal term kupa-piti (meaning “white man’s hole”), this underground community thrives with a markets, churches, and a 4-star luxury hotel.