Coober Pedy, the Australian town built underground to withstand extreme heat As spring temperatures begin to rise in Europe, we see how one town in Australia has been learning to live with extreme heat for the past century. Situated in the middle of the desert, where summer temperatures reach up to 50°C, is Coober Pedy, a town built underground and originally established as a mining centre for opals. Over the past 100 years, residents have adapted to life in this extreme environment, only coming out at night when temperatures drop. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.