3. The Ghost Trees of Deadvlei
Deadvlei, a white clay pan studded with the charcoal skeletons of ancient camel thorn trees, lies deep in the desert. These 900-year-old tree remains produce one of the most strange scenes on Earth. The sand dunes cut off their water supply and the trees perished when the temperature increased; instead of rotting, the arid climate protected them by scorching the trees. A photographer's paradise is created by the contrast among the black trees, white salt pan, rust-red dunes, and deep blue sky. These trees are amazing; they are too dry to break down, thereby acting as natural mummies silently attesting to the environmental changes of the desert over ages.
