Coober Pedy, town, state of South Australia, Australia. Located on the Stuart Highway, at the edge of the Great Victoria Desert, Coober Pedy is on the world's premier opal field. It was settled in 1915 and became a town in 1960, attracting residents from around the world in search of opals. Coober Pedy has one of the most extreme climates in Australia, so the town is constructed entirely below ground to avoid the daytime heat. Water is imported. The town's name is reputed to have originated from the Aborigine words kupa piti, meaning “white man's burrow”. Many of the opal mines are open to visitors. Population 2,492 (1991).Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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