A mining town in Australia’s outback appears to be completely deserted, but its residents have escaped the scorching heat by living in underground caves. The town of Coober Pedy is home to over 1,500 people, as well as hotels, restaurants and churches, all of which are located up to 100ft below ground. “Coober Pedy is renowned for its below-ground residences, called dugouts, which are used to avoid the scorching daytime heat,” says photographer Abigail Varney, who visited the unusual town, located 846km north of Adelaide.
TUGGING on the wing of his sibling, this needy owl is after some attention .
FROM COLOURFUL autumn leaves to living trees at first glance you might miss these people blended with nature .
FINALLY catching a meal, a pair of great white egrets fight over their dinner .
Swirling water and sand create amazing aerial images of river deltas across Iceland .
A diver explores the crystal clear waters of the Silfra canyon in southern Iceland, which is the only place on Earth where you can dive or snorkel between two continental plates .
HUNDREDS of hot air balloons decorate the sky above Turkey as the rising sun illuminates the spectacular scenery below .
LIFTING their heads high and bumping beaks, these aggressive pelicans clash over fish .
Pic By Graham Gibson/ HotSpot Media - SHARK HYPNOTIST BALANCES SHARK IN PALM OF HIS HAND- In Pic - Diver Tom and Caribbean reef sharks in the Bahamas- A SHARK hypnotist balances these predators in the palm of his hand by sending them to sleep with a gentle nose rub .
Playing, splashing and generally messing around, these polar bears show they certainly have a soft spot for the water, and not just each other .
WIDE EYED with a huge smile across her face, this little elephant is a picture of happiness .
A family of foster carers are facing bankruptcy and homelessness after they signed up to a Government scheme to renovate their house to be used for disabled children's short breaks .
More weather chaos is heading our way, with ice and snow already hitting areas across Birmingham .