Lightning Ridge / Black Opal

31/10/08 - We've been to Lightning Ridge, a very hot part of Australia where people come to start a new life. They stake a claim to mine for Opal, a small amount can be worth thousands of dollars. Some people spend the whole day in their mine digging for Opal because underground it is always 20°C, but on the surface it can be as hot as 50°C! It was only 39°C when we visited, but that is still pretty warm!

Lightning Ridge has very hot water too - it all comes from a natural hot spring that pushes up from 1 kilometer below the surface of the earth.

When it gets to the top it is 52°C - you can take a bath in it when it comes up! The locals let it cool down before piping it out to the houses, but it takes too long to ever go cold. In Lightning Ridge even the 'cold' taps have hot water in them!

love - Jonathan + Emma