The World’s Most Spectacular Sand Dunes
Is there reason for the metamorphosis of a geologically formed dune? The formation of sand dunes is within the control of the winds which amazingly, are quite consistent in their decisions.
There is nothing random about the formation of sand dunes; amazingly they are quite consistent in their configuration of patterns. Depending on the nearby vegetation, the directions of the wind, and the amounts of sand available are the deciding factors in which a sand dune will form.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Namib Desert
The highest dunes in the world are located in Africa in the Namib Desert where they reach heights of over 1200 feet high. The largest sand dunes in N. America are surprisingly found in Colorado in the Great Sand Dunes National Park where they are known to reach heights of 700 feet.
Barchan Sand Dunes
Barchan Sand Dunes are shaped like half moons and form where the amounts of sand are limited and the ground surface is relatively flat. The size of these sand dunes are usually modest however, they are quite able to reach heights of over 90 feet.
Star Sand Dunes
Star Sand Dunes are found in the Sahara and Arabian deserts and their shape is derived from a formation of points and can reach heights of 90 to 100 meters high.
Parabolic Sand Dunes
Parabolic Sand Dunes are found in areas of higher vegetation and their sand points to the heavens instead of downwards. Their structure is based on high amounts of sand and they are normally found where off shore winds are in abundance.
Longitudinal Sand Dunes
Longitudinal Sand Dunes form in a parallel line, depending on the direction of the wind and velocity. Typically, these sand dunes are up to 4 meters high however, in parts of Arabia and Australia the dunes can reach up to and beyond 250 feet high.
Transverse Sand Dunes
Transverse Sand Dunes form is areas of low vegetation, with stable winds, and where the sand is bountiful. Transverse dunes are often referred to the “Sand Sea” and are found in parts of the Sahara and Arabia Desert. They can reach heights of 600 feet and can stretch the desert beyond 110 kilometers.
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43 Responses to “The World’s Most Spectacular Sand Dunes”
On January 11, 2009 at 8:52 am
wow… i cant believe if it’s real!
On January 11, 2009 at 9:26 am
It’s amazing how sand can look so much like water.
On January 11, 2009 at 9:33 am
Great post, love the photos.
On January 11, 2009 at 10:55 am
Great article! I love sand dunes. We used to visit Pismo Dunes in California when I was growing up. The were fun to roll down but we got sand everywhere!
On January 11, 2009 at 11:17 am
Great info! I just want to run through them.
On January 11, 2009 at 11:24 am
Beautiful photos and nice article.
On January 11, 2009 at 11:41 am
Very interesting and informative, and cool pics
On January 11, 2009 at 12:44 pm
a very informative article, I have only seen some of them in movies and docu films.
On January 11, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Great article and the photos are wonderful. I shared this on Digg!
On January 11, 2009 at 2:19 pm
These are great photos. Interesting and informative article. I didn’t realize there was such a diversity of sand dunes.
On January 11, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Wow, cool. I used to go dune buggy riding in the Great Sand Dunes National Park…Always loved “the dunes”…(that is what we called them)
On January 11, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Thanks for the comments everyone. This was a fun piece to write as I am becoming obsessed with Geology.
On January 11, 2009 at 3:51 pm
even arid places provide us spectacular scenery,that’s the beauty of nature
On January 11, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Super pictures and great article, Lauren.
On January 11, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Man! That’s was absolutely gorgeous. Good job! That Colorado information was quite surprising.
On January 11, 2009 at 5:31 pm
I love sand dunes. I was thrilled with your post. Pics added so much making it delightful.
On January 11, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Growing up on the Oregon coast I just loved the dunes. I think you did a really nice job of pointing out all the different types of dunes.
Jim
“If it was easy everybody would be doing it”
On January 11, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Amazing! I really enjoy looking at these. There are sand dunes in the SW part of the state of Colorado I believe, -have not seen them myself for all the times I have been to Colorado on vacations, conventions outings, etc. This is bookmarked.
On January 11, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Beautiful pictures and great article as always.
On January 12, 2009 at 12:04 am
Wow! Breathtaking, stunning. It’s a breath of fresh air.
On January 12, 2009 at 1:33 am
Those are some amazing pics Lauren. Great facts to support them. Well done.
On January 12, 2009 at 2:47 am
Damn those pictures make me want to buy a plane, or a Leer jet and just go and get out of here….
I want to leave Philadelphia so bad its a shame, but I gotta wait until the right job comes along but that looks like somewhere I would go where no one knows me and I can start my life off fresh.
On January 12, 2009 at 4:13 am
very spectacularly beautiful scenery! Good work!
On January 12, 2009 at 5:41 am
Beautiful article!
On January 12, 2009 at 5:54 am
Great article, Lauren! Beautiful photos!
On January 12, 2009 at 7:54 am
sand flying everywhere. They make great shapes. I love the photos.Splendid.
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On January 12, 2009 at 8:54 am
WoW Lauren you did a spectacular job on this article. If there is a favorite for me it would be the Star sand dunes but I loved them all. thanks for the info and pics.
On January 12, 2009 at 9:50 am
Wow, Lauren, this is breaktaking!
On January 12, 2009 at 9:53 am
Incredibly beautiful article..Love all the information you’ve provided, and your choice of photos are just excellent!
On January 12, 2009 at 11:03 am
Great pictures and a great variety of them to educate people.
On January 12, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Great article! And the pictures are amazing. These dunes must be breathtaking to see up close. Or to stand at the top of one and look across the desert. I read an interview with Peter O’Toole once where he said filming “Lawrence of Arabia” in the desert was an unforgettable experience.
On January 12, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Beautiful pictures. I love nature. Enjoyed reading the article.
On January 12, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Informative article, beautiful pics! Thanks for posting this. A couple weeks ago we played on the dunes at Jockey’s Ridge in North Carolina and had a blast.
On January 12, 2009 at 3:18 pm
-Back again for another look at these… (using Safari so, credentials are off by default)
On January 12, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Great article! I love the photos! Well done.
On January 12, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Lauren, thanks for sharing this work. Amazing landscapes.
On January 12, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Amazing.
On January 13, 2009 at 1:07 am
Awesome!
On January 13, 2009 at 10:07 am
Excellent images and facts.
On January 13, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Love the article. Awesome pics too.
On January 15, 2009 at 8:49 am
Mix in some trees and these would look like the Oregon sand dunes!!
On January 17, 2009 at 10:21 am
Good article with spectacular pictures.
On March 20, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Stunning photos, I am fascinated by sand dunes, this was a great article.
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