Key Takeaways
- Marble Bar, a small town in Western Australia, is experiencing temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius or above, which is considered normal for the area.
- Residents of Marble Bar have shared their tips on how to keep cool in a heatwave, including taking regular showers, sleeping in air-conditioned rooms, and wearing wet towels.
- The town has a reputation for being one of the hottest places in Australia, with a record 160 days above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the 1923-24 summer.
- Locals recommend drinking plenty of water, replacing electrolytes, and staying in the shade to stay cool.
- Creative solutions, such as using misting toilets and filling pools with ice, are also being used to beat the heat.
Introduction to Marble Bar
Marble Bar, a small town in Western Australia, is no stranger to extreme heat. With a population of around 200 people, the town is nestled in the arid Pilbara region, between the major mining towns of Newman and Port Hedland. The town has gained international recognition for its record-breaking heat, with 160 days above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the 1923-24 summer. Despite the current heatwave affecting the rest of Australia, residents of Marble Bar are unfazed, with temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius or above being considered business as usual.
Coping with the Heat
Residents of Marble Bar have developed unique ways to cope with the extreme heat. Bazz Harris, the manager of the Marble Bar Community Resource Centre, shared some of the tips and tricks that locals use to stay cool. One resident, for example, purchased 30 bags of ice and filled his blow-up pool with it, then sat on his front porch with a beer to cool off. While this may not be the most conventional method, it highlights the creative solutions that people are coming up with to beat the heat. Harris also emphasized the importance of sleep and hydration, recommending that people get a good eight hours of sleep in a cool, air-conditioned bedroom to help them deal with the heat of the day.
Staying Cool in Marble Bar
Marble Bar resident John Mladenovich shared some of his own tips for staying cool, including wearing a wet towel over his head, neck, and face, or running under the sprinkler. He also recommended drinking plenty of water and replacing electrolytes to avoid dehydration. Mladenovich suggested drinking a mixture of orange, lemon, and baking soda to help replenish electrolytes and stay refreshed. Perhaps most importantly, he emphasized the importance of staying in the shade and enjoying a cold beverage while watching the cricket. For Mladenovich, this is the ultimate way to stay cool, making the heat almost unbearable.
The Misting Toilet Invention
Mladenovich also recalled a clever invention he came across at an exploration site in the Great Sandy Desert. The site had a tin shed toilet with an automated mister installed, which would spray a fine mist of water over the user as they sat on the toilet. This ingenious solution provided a welcome respite from the heat, and Mladenovich described it as feeling like air conditioning. While this may not be a practical solution for everyone, it highlights the creative ways that people are finding to stay cool in extreme heat.
Conclusion
Marble Bar’s reputation as one of the hottest towns in Australia is well-deserved, but its residents are well-adapted to the extreme heat. By sharing their tips and tricks for staying cool, residents of Marble Bar are showing that even in the most challenging conditions, it is possible to stay comfortable and safe. Whether it’s taking regular showers, sleeping in air-conditioned rooms, or using creative solutions like misting toilets, the people of Marble Bar are proof that with the right mindset and a few clever tricks, anyone can survive – and even thrive – in extreme heat. As the rest of Australia swelters through the current heatwave, the residents of Marble Bar remain unfazed, knowing that they have the skills and knowledge to stay cool and comfortable, even in the face of record-breaking temperatures.