Residents of the remote Australian mining town of Coober Pedy live almost entirely underground in dug-out caves to escape the absolutely blistering, apocalyptic surface temperatures.

A closer look

Residents of the remote Australian mining town of Coober Pedy live almost entirely underground in dug-out caves to escape the absolutely blistering, apocalyptic surface temperatures. Having decided that mining for opals in a desolate wasteland where the thermometer regularly hits one hundred and twenty degrees was a great career choice, the locals simply brought heavy machinery in and carved fully furnished apartments out of the bedrock. Now, confused tourists flock to this subterranean society to sleep in dirt-walled motels, drink in underground pubs, and play on a golf course that has literally zero grass and requires players to carry their own little patch of artificial turf. It is a profound testament to humanity's sheer, stubborn refusal to simply move to a nicer climate, opting instead to become literal mole people just to dig up shiny rocks for jewelry while selling souvenirs to sunburned backpackers