Temperatures in summer can however reach into the high 40s but below ground the temperature remains continually at around 22 degrees all year. The Lightning Ridge area is world-renowned for the mining of black opals and other opal gemstones. Lightning Ridge has the largest known deposits of black opals in the world.
The name Lightning Ridge is rumoured to have originated in the 1870s when some passers by found the bodies of a farmer, his dog and 600 sheep which had been struck by lightning.
We have an extremely multicultural population (the exact number is one of the towns many mysteries!) including indigenous Australians and Australians from over 50 different countries as well as visitors from all around the world..
Our town has a Five Star Olympic Pool, diving complex, rock climbing wall and Water Theme Park which operates during the summer. We are also equipped with a 16 hole Outback golf course and football and soccer ovals.