Often referred to as the oldest desert in the world, the Namib Desert is a veritable gold mine of remarkable natural events that still enthrals both researchers and tourists. Stretching along Namibia's Atlantic coast, this great red desert features some of the most amazing and enigmatic natural events on Earth. From the eerie Deadvlei to the mysterious fairy rings, these nine events show the amazing intricacy and artistic ability of nature. Every phenomena reveals a different narrative of survival, adaptation, and the unadulterated power of natural forces sculpting this ancient scene over millions of years.
1. The Dancing Dunes of Sossusvlei
Among the most famous natural occurrences in the Namib Desert are the soaring crimson dunes of Sossusvlei. Rising to heights of up to 325 meters, these enormous sand mountains are continually moving and moulded by the desert winds. These dunes have their characteristic red hue from the special iron oxide-coated sand, which is even more strong between sunrise and sunset. Sand and wind patterns interact to provide an amazing "dancing" appearance whereby the dunes gently migrate over the desert terrain. From above, scientists have seen that these dunes form star-shaped patterns and keep their fundamental form despite ongoing movement. The intricate wind dynamics produce sharp ridges along the crests of the dunes, sometimes referred to as slip faces, where regular sand avalanches occur, therefore enabling the continuous change of the dunes.
