The highest sand dune in Europe. The largest dune in Europe! Dunes of Tifernine in Algeria

The highest sand dunes on our planet are located in Africa, in the Namibian desert, in the Sossusvlei nature reserve. Some of them reach almost 400 meters in height.

The dunes were “built” by the wind. This is a very slow but persistent builder. The sand is constantly moving. And the shape of the sandy high-rises is changing.
In addition to height and shape, giants also differ from each other in color. There are up to 16 shades of red, pink, yellow, orange.

Not all of the sand mountains are allowed to be approached or driven up. Self-will is punishable by a substantial fine.

Dune called Big Daddy with a height of 325 meters

More often the dunes here are not given names, but simply assigned a number. The highest dune is dune number 7, its height is almost 390 m.

Sossusvlei are like waves - some lower, some higher. The dunes here come together, preventing further flow of the Tsauchab River, about 60 km east of the Atlantic Ocean.

Endless play of light and shadow. Dunes of perfect shape. Sharpened dune ridges. Bright sky. Surreal world...

The black gnarled trunks of acacias that dried out a thousand years ago are the Dead Valley - Dead Vlei.

For many years, the dunes were formed under the influence of winds.

Dunes have different colors: red to chestnut brown, pale yellow to fiery scarlet, apricot to orange.

Experienced tourists say that in Sossusvlei you need to see at least one sunrise and one sunset to see all the sandy shades: from pale yellow-pink to orange, then to rich yellow, red and deep purple in the shade...

Climbing the dunes is arranged for tourists. Climb on

Unfortunately, it is traditionally more difficult for a Russian traveler to get to France than, for example, to Italy or Spain. There are few direct flights, poor flight geography (mainly Paris, Nice and Marseille), high average cost - about 15 thousand rubles. It is not surprising that for the sake of the sea, cultural events and gastronomy, Russians choose Spain or Italy instead of France.

The situation has changed greatly this summer - Ural Airlines launched two direct flights to France: to Bordeaux and Montpellier. At the same time, all summer and autumn the airline pleases with very pleasant fares. So, in the summer you could find round-trip tickets to Bordeaux for autumn for 8-9 thousand rubles. We at PRTBRT are glad that now France is becoming closer to travelers.

We tell you why Aquitaine and Bordeaux can be a great destination for your autumn trip.

Bordeaux Airport is located in one of the largest regions of France - New Aquitaine. It includes several departments: Dordogne, Gironde, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne and Pyrénées-Atlantiques. This is one of the most picturesque regions of France: pine forests, sand dunes, coastline extends along the Atlantic Ocean (almost 300 kilometers), medieval cities and, of course, vineyards. In our material we will not touch upon the entire region - it is too large and interesting - but will focus on the first acquaintance and a circular journey with an arrival in Bordeaux.

Bordeaux itself is a French top city

Bordeaux is an excellent example of modern French city. The vibrant historical center is adjacent to the modern embankment and art quarter. The famous Bordeaux houses (échoppes bordelaises) and ancient vineyards coexist quietly with modern architecture and the futuristic Wine Museum (Cité du Vin). In such cities, one can be sincerely surprised at how easily public opinion labels the French snobs. Bordeaux is the perfect example of anti-snobbery and a modern take on a city with a huge history.

Historical Center Bordeaux

Historical center of Bordeaux

What is especially striking is the lack of excessive reverence for historical buildings and the desire to create public spaces that the city needs right now. So, opposite the Port of Luna, near the Exchange Palace and the Customs Museum, a huge “Water Mirror” appeared in 2006. This is an entire area filled with several centimeters of water. It gives an incredible reflection effect, literally turning the landscape upside down. Periodically, the fountain releases suspension from the water, creating the effect of fog and water mist. It is not surprising that this is one of the most favorite places not only for city residents, but also for tourists. Another great example of rethinking a historical space is the arthouse cinema and cafe Utopia. The cinema occupied the space of an ancient church in the very center of the city. The interior hasn't changed much, so it's definitely worth a look.

Water mirror (Place de la Bourse)

Cinema and cafe Utopia

Bordeaux has an amazing concentration of good museums. If you happen to be in the city for just a couple of days, then we recommend visiting our main favorites: the Cité du Vin Wine Museum, the CAPC Museum of Contemporary Art and, of course, the cultural BETASOM, located on a former Italian submarine base.

The entrance ticket to the Wine Museum is 20 euros. This price includes the museum visit itself, an audio guide and even a tasting of one wine of your choice. observation deck museum.

Mostly tourists spend time on the left bank of Bordeaux. This is a big omission: on the right there is an important point of attraction - the Darwin art quarter. Former military barracks were transformed in 2002 into a huge modern space with shops, cafes, a skate park, co-working space and music clubs. It is best to come here for a specific event or festival - on weekdays it can be a bit empty. For example, on September 6–8, the large eco-festival Сlimax will be held here.

Wine Museum (La Cité du Vin)

Darwin Art District

Biarritz is the surfing capital of Europe. And it's really cool here

A relaxed and sunny city filled with retirees and surfers in equal measure. If we talk about the famous French bon vivantism, then this is where it is concentrated to the greatest extent. Biarritz is completely devoid of pretentiousness and gloss, which are so abundant on the French Riviera (yes, hello, Nice and Cannes). On the contrary, here ancient villas and a luxurious casino rather serve as nice decorations for local life. Given the small size of the city, there is always something to do in Biarritz: walk along the beaches, go surfing, drink wine by the lighthouse, dine in fishermen's cafes, visit the public pool with a gorgeous view of the ocean.

Biarritz

Biarritz

If you have never tried surfing before and are sure that it is not for you, then Biarritz is a great place to gather your strength and try this sport. This city is the birthplace of European surfing. In 1956, Hollywood screenwriter Peter Wertel came to Biarritz to make films. He noticed that the local bay has a unique bottom structure, which allows the formation of waves of the size required for surfing. He regularly surfed here, and then donated his board to local guys, who became enthusiasts of this movement. People even called them “surf’s uncles” (Les Tontons Surfeurs). By the way, the most famous surf school on this coast was founded - Jo Moraiz - by one of these guys.

Biarritz

Learn and experience French wine

If you have long wanted to begin to understand at least a little about French wine, then Bordeaux will be the ideal destination for you. The scale of production, traditions and culture of wine here will awe and stupor even those who are seriously immersed in wine culture. Wine is the basis of the cultural code of Bordeaux, which can be read everywhere - from ancient chateaus with huge vineyards to the ultra-modern Wine Museum. The museum, by the way, tells not only about the history of winemaking, but also about how and who makes wine in other countries now. The editors, for example, were pleasantly surprised by how widely Georgia is represented in the museum.

In Bordeaux, there are many educational and entertainment activities related to wine: from a wine half-marathon to serious courses dedicated to world winemaking. In Cité du Vin, for example, a special tasting room has been built, where you can not only taste Chilean or Georgian wine, but also immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the region itself: through video, specially recorded sounds and even smells. The travel website Bordeux Wine Trip has a whole section with developed routes through the vineyards. You can even visit them by bike!

Wine Museum (La Cité du Vin)

The Basques are not only in Spain. This is where you can get acquainted with their amazing culture

The Basques are perhaps one of the most interesting and original peoples living in Europe. Traditionally, the Basques settled in the south of France and the north of Spain, inhabiting the steep slopes of the Western Pyrenees. The isolation to which some mountain peoples are prone has led to the fact that the Basque culture has remained original and unusual. Just look at the famous Basque language. It has no analogues in the world and does not belong to any classical group of languages.

Due to radical views and the terrorist organization ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna), the world has heard more about the Spanish part of the Basque Country. But it is in the southwest of France that there is a large number of traditional villages and towns where you can immerse yourself in the unusual Basque culture.

Basque pelota

For rustic flavor and traditional Basque architecture, head to the small villages scattered throughout southwest France. So, half an hour’s drive from Biarritz is the picturesque village of Ainhoa. By the way, it is included in the list of the most beautiful villages in France. Enoa is famous for the fact that it is here that Basque buildings have been preserved as much as possible - the center of the village consists entirely of traditional white and red houses.

Bayonne

Ainhoa

Another village that is definitely worth a visit is Espelette. This is where the famous Espelette red pepper is produced. It is used in many traditional dishes of the region and, of course, is sold for export. The heat of this pepper is not very high: on the Scoville scale it does not exceed 4 thousand units. The best time to visit this place is late summer and autumn. Firstly, in autumn the houses look as colorful as possible - they are all hung with peppers that are drying in the sun. Secondly, at the end of October there is a grand festival of pepper and Basque culture.

Espelette

See the largest sand dune in Europe

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Deserts are considered deserted and lifeless, but at the same time they are incredibly beautiful, especially when viewed from above. Different types of sand, topography, wind and climate all create a colossal variety of landscapes. The wandering dunes form an endless number of ever-changing shapes. The photographs in this collection were taken by astronauts and satellites and capture the...

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Deserts are considered deserted and lifeless, but at the same time they are incredibly beautiful, especially when viewed from above. Different types of sand, topography, wind and climate all create a colossal variety of landscapes. The wandering dunes form an endless number of ever-changing shapes.

The photographs in this collection were taken by astronauts and satellites and capture the most beautiful, most memorable, vast desert areas of our planet.

Algerian Sand Sea

The sand sea (Erg) of Issaouane extends over 39,000 sq. km. in eastern Algeria. This sand sea in the middle of the Sahara Desert is made up of three types of dunes. Mega-dunes, also known as whalebacks, formed over hundreds of thousands of years and reach hundreds of kilometers in length. Mesoscale dunes form the top of mega-dunes, and their gradual displacement can only be noticed over decades. Smaller dunes form around dunes bigger size. They take on different shapes under the influence of winds and are in constant motion.

In a photograph taken by ISS astronauts in 2005, the mesoscale dunes took the form of starfish dunes and crescent dunes.

*Click to see higher resolution photo

In the photograph taken by ISS astronauts in 2006, huge rounded shapes are mega-dunes. Dunes smallest size look like wrinkles against the backdrop of large dunes.

Imperial Dunes of California

The Algodon Dune Field, located on the border between Mexico and Arizona with California, reaches a width of almost 10 km and stretches for 70 km. These dunes are best known as the dunes of the planet Tatooine in the universe. Star Wars. In their open spaces there is an official National Park, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The only man-made structure among the dunes is the American Canal, which cuts its way through the dunes near their rise near the agricultural lands of Mexico. It can be seen on the right in the photo. The photo was taken by astronauts aboard the ISS in 2005.

White Sands in New Mexico

The sands of the dunes of White Sands National Monument are particles of gypsum, an evaporite mineral that accumulated as a result of the evaporation of large masses of water. In place of these dunes, a shallow sea dried up several hundred million years ago. Several thousand years ago a huge lake evaporated here. Such dunes are quite rare because gypsum usually dissolves easily in water and is subsequently carried by rivers. Here its particles were preserved due to the fact that there is no access to the sea from the basin where they are located. In turn, the water from the rivers flowing into this basin dried up, and the gypsum was not washed out.

The dunes in southern New Mexico cover an area of ​​more than 700 square kilometers. Almost half of the area is protected by a national park. This photograph of the area was taken by the Advanced Land Imager on NASA's Earth Observing-1 satellite.

Rub al-Khali Desert (Empty Quarter) in Saudi Arabia

This aptly named desert is the largest in the world sandy sea and covers an area of ​​more than 580,000 square kilometers. The photo shows a part of it located in Saudi Arabia, but this sea is also located in Yemen, Oman and the UAE.

The gray and white patches between the pink sands are plains covered with dry salt. The temperature in Rub al-Khali (literally translated as “empty quarter”) reaches 54 °C. Only a few species of plants, spiders and rodents that live here can survive in such heat. The sand covers one of the most oil-rich areas in the world.

This photo was taken in 2001. using Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) on the NASA/USGS Landsat 7 satellite. Below is a close-up photo of the dunes. You can learn more about the Rub al-Khali in this National Geographic video.

Dunes of Tifernine in Algeria

This part of the Sahara Desert, located in eastern Algeria, adjoins the dark gray Tinrkhert Plateau. Star dunes were formed on top of the old large dunes by the action of the winds, and sedimentary rocks, along with salt, accumulated in small depressions between the dunes. The climate is now dry and hot, but river-carved valleys along the edge of the plateau indicate a wetter climate in the past.

This photo was taken by astronauts aboard the ISS in August 2009.

Ounyanga Lakes, Chad

These finger-shaped lakes represent what remains of one big lake, which began to decrease approximately 5.5 thousand years ago. The sand was blown by the wind and partially filled the lake basin, breaking it into several separate ones. Nine out of ten lakes are fresh, drawing their water from an aquifer underground. Ancient pollen found among sediment in the lakes showed that the area once had a temperate tropical climate.

The tallest and oldest dunes in the world

In the Namib Desert you can find dunes about three hundred meters high. They were carved by winds blowing along the Atlantic coast of Namibia. The Namib-Naukluft National Park, pictured here, is one of Africa's largest parks. It is home to hyenas, jackals, geckos and other rare animals. In addition, this desert is considered one of the oldest in the world - the climate here was dry 55 million years ago. Today, its area receives an average of only 6 cm of precipitation per year.

The following photograph was taken in 2000 by the Landsat-7 satellite operated by NASA and the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey).

This topographic image was created by combining a photograph taken in 2002 with topological data obtained by ASTER equipment from the Terra satellite. In 2009, it celebrated its tenth anniversary.

Great Sand Dunes of Colorado

This collection of dunes, located near the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado, was designated a national monument in 1932 and a national park in 2004. Every year it is visited by 300 thousand visitors. Although these dunes cover an area of ​​just under 80 square kilometers, they reach 230 m in height and are the tallest dunes in the United States.

This photo of Great Sand Dunes National Park (above) was taken by the Ikonos sensor on board the GeoEye satellite in 2005.

The lightly colored sand of the dunes was formed from sedimentary rock that was gradually eroded by the adjacent mountains and deposited in the lake. The lake periodically dried up, and the wind blew rocks from its bottom.

And this one - by ISS astronauts in 2007.

Saktoria: ciliates that have lost their cilia

Smooth, almost sandless, flat-bottomed bowls, bordered by huge dunes, which in turn are covered by small jagged dunes, resemble a honeycomb in the heart of the Sahara.

The Murzuq Sand Sea in Libya contains numerous rows of these large dunes called "draas". The smaller dunes, which can be seen in the photo below, consist of many star dunes, linear longitudinal dunes and curved transverse dunes. The weathered side of smaller dunes is smoother and gentler than the opposite side. This photo was taken by ISS astronauts in December 2008.

Lake Eyre in Australia

Heavy rains in early 2009 began to fill the bottom of this huge dry lake in Queensland's Simpson Desert. In the photo you can see the water flowing into the lake. It was taken on May 9 by the Landsat-5 satellite. Along with the water, plants and thousands of birds appear.

The photo below, taken by satellite on February 18, shows how dry the area remains. most of the year.

Outcrops in the Sahara

Sandy rivers, capped by dunes, meander around exposed rock in this very dry and barren stretch of the Sahara in Libya. This photo was taken by the Terra satellite in 2002.

Scars of Australia

This part of the Simpson Desert in Australia's Northern Territory is covered with desert bush, which gives it a greenish tint and prevents winds from displacing the dunes. However, a fire that occurred here a year before this photo was taken in 2002 burned away some of the vegetation, exposing the sands underneath.

The strange pattern in the sand must have been caused by a 90-degree turn in the direction of the winds during the fire. This photo was taken by ISS astronauts.

The dream of visiting Africa was born a long time ago from books and countless films about wildlife, thanks to which I knew from childhood the names and habits of all antelopes, cats and other inhabitants of the legendary endless savannas. Finally, the time came when I had a company of like-minded people in the person of three of my friends, but never before has any other trip cost us so much effort and doubt, which is to blame for malaria, sleeping sickness, crime and a host of other dangers that can lie in wait for a group of girls on The Dark Continent. We managed to overcome all doubts and eliminate internal obstacles - we purchased air tickets, booked lodges and transfers, and exciting adventures were already ahead of us!
Arriving in Windhoek, we loaded into a minibus, which soon stalled on a red dirt road in the middle of the savannah: the first time - before entering the gate of the Erindi nature reserve, after which the driver was able to fix the car and start it, then we drove into the Erindi gate, and, not reaching 24 km to the lodge, the car stalled again. This time the driver was unable to start it, although he was covered in red dust, lying under the bottom of this shabby wreck. As a result, in the midst of the afternoon heat, without any air conditioning, we waited for transport from the lodge for about 3 hours. Finally, a local ranger arrived in an ordinary jeep, and the four of us barely fit into the cabin. Bouncing over potholes and crossing large red puddles in the middle of the road, we felt like heroines of 19th century novels, the first explorers of African open spaces, exchanging European comfort for dangerous and dubious adventures. Here we first felt the flavor of real wild Africa!
Despite the monstrous delay, we were still fed some lunch, and most importantly, we were in time for the evening safari! The first African safari leaves indelible impressions and is remembered for a lifetime, and I am glad that it took place in Erindi, where the red earth with picturesque termite mounds and mountains form truly fantastic landscapes.

We were simply delighted when the four of us climbed into the seats of our special huge jeep on high wheels, and the charming dark-skinned driver began to show us the first animals: a herd of impalas was just crossing the road, a green bee-eater was sitting on a tree next to us, miniature ones were hiding in the bushes in the distance antelopes and graceful oryxes; cheetahs were resting nearby in the shade.

We carefully peered into the surrounding landscape in search of animals and found more and more new inhabitants. The real hunting excitement has awakened in us! At sunset, we were allowed to walk a little on the savannah (around the jeep, of course), we watched as a huge centipede with countless legs crawled across the red soil. The drive back to the lodge was no less exciting: at dusk, the bushes illuminated by the headlights seemed mysterious, and we noticed some kind of small fox trotting in front of us. Sometimes the driver drove the car straight into the bush, apparently cutting off winding sections of the road known to him alone, in order to quickly bring us to dinner. Stars appeared in the sky. The abundance of insects was confirmed by the way they swarmed around the lanterns and any light sources in the evening. Entering our room from the street, we could not avoid letting uninvited guests inside: praying mantises, butterflies and other inhabitants of the savannah, because they instantly reacted to the light inside.
Even before sunrise, we left for a morning safari, which gave us many unexpected encounters: graceful lyre-horned tall antelopes, waterbucks, wildebeests, marabou storks, ostriches.

Next, the Bushmen were waiting for us: their unusual appearance, clicking tongue, and imitation of hunting did not leave us indifferent. Bushmen in their own way appearance They are not at all like typical black Africans, so they are classified as a special race with the oldest genotype in the world. They are distinguished by fairly fair skin and Mongoloid facial features. In a desert climate, they learned to save water by burying it in the ground in ostrich eggs - they demonstrated this skill to us.

In the savanna, surprises await you everywhere: imagine my surprise when I noticed that one of the branches of the bush next to the hut turned out to be a snake, perfectly camouflaged in an ambush. In the midst of the midday heat, we watched the hippopotamuses, who sometimes swore at each other, opening their huge mouths, but how much tenderness the caring mother had towards the charming, very tiny cub.

More than anything in the world, I love days like these, when every step, no matter how insignificant at first glance, taken intuitively, serves as a link in the logical chain of a unique, irresistibly beautiful flow of events that previously seemed like unattainable dreams, and even natural phenomena develop in this way, that the world appears before my eyes in all its pristine splendor. This fleeting and fragile beauty of an inexhaustible world generous in wonders always gives me a feeling of deep happiness. And our second evening in Erindi was just like that.
We left for the evening safari at 16:30. We again reminded the ranger we already knew about our dream of seeing giraffes. As soon as we drove very close to the lodge, we noticed a lioness wandering along the road and a lying lion - it was an unplanned stroke of luck.

After watching them, we continued moving towards the mountains. After a short search, the ranger suddenly stopped the jeep and showed us in the distance in the lowlands the long necks of giraffes towering above the acacia trees. Hooray!!! Our joy knew no bounds; we finally found them! When we got very close to the giraffes, the graceful animals crossed the road and stopped at an acacia tree right next to us. There were three of them, and they posed for us in the rays of the setting sun with such dignity that is characteristic only of them.

Having had our fill of giraffes, we set off to track down the very rare Hartmann's mountain zebras, which live only in Namibia, and here we were lucky too! True, the striped horses began to run away from us into the bush, but our ranger generously agreed to pursue them off-road.

We never managed to overtake the herd, but this reckless excitement allowed us to quite accidentally scare away a rhinoceros at a watering hole. The cautious and very rare animal, of course, instantly disappeared into the bush, but the impression of meeting it became the most vivid and memorable of the entire safari.

As soon as the sun disappeared behind the horizon, the clouds began to acquire bright scarlet shades.

It was impossible to take our eyes off the play of colors, but we nevertheless began to move towards the lodge, and suddenly, to the right of the road, we saw the delicate silhouettes of giraffes right against the backdrop of a flaming sunset: a spectacle straight out of the pages of National Geographic magazine.

It was a dream brought to reality by some almighty artist. I wanted this bright evening to never end!
The main goal of our final morning safari in Erindi was the elephants. As soon as the sun appeared over the mountains, we quite by accident discovered a huge herd of giraffes, including babies.

If yesterday's long-necked quartet made such a strong impression on us, then the delight of dozens of animals with different shades of spots on their skin is simply impossible to put into words! In search of elephants, the guide plowed more and more wild areas of the bush, and it should be noted that there were plenty of traces of their activity. And finally, he even climbed onto the roof of our jeep to inspect all the surroundings - only this measure was able to bring tangible results: the elephant was discovered, and we drove up almost close to it at the moment when it was eating small leaves from the bushes. We thought about how long he would have to do this to get enough. After breakfast we set off for Swakopmund: first through the expanses of the savannah, and then through the gray lifeless desert. There the Himba women were waiting for us at the market. I bought three leather bracelets from them, and in response they began to dance, unwinding their incredible hairstyles. Both Himba men and women cover their bodies with a mixture of ocher, fat and ash to protect their skin from the sun. Despite the difficult living conditions - in the 20th century the tribe was more than once on the verge of extinction due to genocide and droughts - the Himba managed to preserve their unique traditions and gene pool.

We had barely set sail from the pier in the morning when two huge pelicans landed on the deck of our boat.

We watched a giant fur seal rookery located on the beach of Cape Cross, after which another guest climbed onto our ship - a black cormorant.

At the port we were provided with a personal off-road jeep along with a pleasant driver in a cowboy hat. Along the way we stopped to admire a large colony of pink flamingos.

We had dreamed of seeing this unforgettable sight for so long that we were simply happy at that moment! And finally, the finale of our program was a safari along the yellow dunes: first we raced along a narrow strip of deserted coast, sandwiched between high dunes and the ocean (probably the tide is flooding it, and tourists need to get back in time before this happens), here we are for the first time We climbed to the top of one of them ourselves. The driver turned to the side, and our jeep began to climb up the sand, finally reaching a very picturesque place. We were here completely alone among the sand scorched by the midday heat, finding ourselves among the pristine dunes that filled the entire visible space around us right up to the horizon.

We were aware of the hostility of this environment - it was impossible to stay here for long without water - and at the same time we were delighted with the wild beauty of these places. The real adventures began when the driver decided to take us on a local roller coaster: the jeep either slid down the steep slopes of the dunes under its own weight to the singing of the sands, or roared up at the same angle. This quickly made us dizzy, but he did not descend onto the packed sand until he had thoroughly tormented us.
The battered minibuses in which we plied the dirt roads of Namibia certainly leave much to be desired. The next morning, the next specimen we received also caused great concern on the steep climbs on the way to Sossusvlei - our springboard for exploring the Namib - the oldest desert in the world, the same age as the dinosaurs. We drove to the lodge through mountainous, rubble-covered desert. It was so hot here that just a few minutes spent in the sun could cause sunstroke. We met only two cars, and the driver of one of them asked our Namibian for directions. Finally we arrived at Sossusvlei Lodge - this oasis of civilization in the middle of the desert, delighting the traveler with air conditioning in the sealed rooms of the reception and tour desk, free water and boiling water there, a small swimming pool, pleasant houses half stone and half canvas, and wild oryx trees behind them. can always be seen from anywhere in the lodge. After a short rest we went out to spend the sunset in the desert. We dined at wrought-iron tables under open air by candlelight, tasting local dishes and watching the stars - it was a wonderful evening!
Early in the morning we boarded a safari jeep and drove out to the gates of Sossusvlei for the opening of the red dune reserve. We met the dawn on the way, watching the rising balloon and oryxes on the slopes of the small grassy first roadside dunes. WITH high point below us appeared a picturesque valley of dunes, illuminated by the first orange rays of the sun.

The Namib Desert, which translates from the Nama language as “the place where there is nothing,” stretches almost 2,000 kilometers along the Atlantic coast and extends inland to a distance of up to 160 kilometers. The fantastic color of the sand is due to its high iron content.

First, we quickly rushed along the asphalt road past dune No. 45, along the steep ridge of which numerous tourists were already climbing, and then we began to slowly make our way through the quicksand to our main goal - the Dead Valley. Once upon a time there was an oasis here, formed by waters rivers, but about 1000 years ago giant dunes blocked their inflow. The dry climate of the valley ensures ideal preservation of trees killed by drought. A couple of kilometers from it, our walking tour began, during which we, of course, attempted to storm the highest dune named Big Daddy, 325 meters high, from which the best view to the desired valley.

Unfortunately, we did not have enough strength to climb to the top of this dune: it turned out to be simply physically inaccessible, like Everest.

I think that we could have climbed if we had started doing this before dawn, but in the heat it was no longer possible. I reached the farthest along the ridge of its foothills right across the virgin soil and rolled down to the far edge of the white clay valley at the moment when I realized that I did not have enough water with me, and even if I climbed up, I simply did not have enough resources to Return trip. It was incredibly pleasant to feel hard petrified clay under your feet instead of quicksand!

It was approaching noon, the heat was 40 degrees, or even 50-60, so the section of sand from the Dead Valley to the jeep turned out to be the most difficult - we overcame it with great difficulty, almost losing consciousness. This was truly a deadly undertaking, considering that we had no water left, and even hot sand was poured into our sneakers. We were the last to leave the Dead Valley - there were no more tourists left in it, and the surrounding landscapes appeared before us in all their pristine beauty.

On the way back, our jeep suddenly buried itself in the sand, and any movement of the wheels only led to a worsening of the situation: they were buried even deeper.

We had to get out of the car to ease its weight and the driver’s attempts to do something - the voluminous crown of an old acacia tree was creating a saving shadow nearby. It should be noted that the desert is not lifeless in places: underground waters still feed the local area, and trees with green leaves grow along the entire road, as well as clumps of tall grass that serve as food for the local inhabitants.
Passing drivers with tourists only laughed at our misfortune. Only one of them tried to push the car out of the hole with our joint efforts, but we didn’t succeed. Finally, help arrived, and some kind people pulled out our jeep with a rope. When we drove onto the asphalt, a hot wind blew across us with such force, as if we were under a huge hair dryer turned on at full power. The dunes became completely colorless and flat: they no longer evoked the delight that we felt in the morning, admiring their fantastic colors and shadows. We arrived at the lodge probably the last of all the tourists, terribly tired from the heat and adventure. I devoted the rest of the day to photographing the irresistible oryx and the most jumping antelope in the world, springbok, grazing next to our houses.

Towards evening, blue clouds suddenly appeared against the backdrop of the mountains, and we witnessed a rare phenomenon for the Namib: we heard thunder and saw drizzling rain, which of course did not last long.

All this was accompanied by a strong dust storm. And on the day of departure, at 5 am, the canvas walls of our house began to make noise from a sudden new dust storm: we were no longer able to sleep, but we felt the force of the wind well.
Before leaving Namibia, we still managed to meet a new Bushmen family.

We also managed to walk with a tame cheetah - they are easily tamed, like dogs, with whom, in addition to their docile disposition, they are related by many features of physiology and behavior: non-retractable claws, susceptibility to canine diseases, hunting style, so one can even come across the opinion that the cheetah is as if an intermediate link between the canine and feline families. The peaceful nature of the cheetah contributed to the fact that since ancient times, residents of many countries in Asia and Africa began to use it as a hunting animal, and the colonizers of Namibia continued this tradition. However, our big cat very quickly went to where she was interested, completely ignoring the people who had difficulty keeping up with her, who sometimes had to push through the bushes so as not to lose sight of her. She did not obey the ranger at all, and only when she was tired did she lie down on her side to rest in the dense bushes. The cheetah did not cause any fear in us - it is not an aggressive animal at all. And when I scratched our spotted cat behind the ear, she began to purr just like any other cat, only much louder.

So, our brave African expedition was successful, there were a lot of impressions, it was one of the most exciting trips my friends and I had! On the trip, all our dreams came true: we saw colonies of flamingos, herds of giraffes and mountain zebras, elephants, lions, rhinoceroses, hippos with cubs, irresistible oryxes and many other antelopes, felt the quicksand of untrodden dunes and a dust storm, stormed the highest mountains in the world dunes of all possible shades, hunted with Bushmen and danced with girls of the Himba tribe with incredible hairstyles, and even walked with a cheetah! Don’t be afraid to explore Africa - this can and should be done even in an all-female company!

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The most real one sandy desert can be found in France. This is the famous Pyla Dune. Millions of tons of golden sand, as if by a magic spell, were transported here from the Sahara.

general description

Dune Pyla is the highest dune in Europe. Its highest point lies at a level of 130 meters. But this value is not constant; strong winds affect it, periodically adjusting it in one direction or another.

The sand strip has a fairly regular rectangular shape. The width of the dune reaches 600 meters, and the length is almost 3 kilometers. The volume of sand is estimated at approximately 60 million cubic meters.

By the way, a similar sand phenomenon can be observed in Japan. There is approximately the same desert called Tottori

Where is the Pyla Dune located?

Geographic coordinates 44.589167, -1.214618

The French desert is located near the town of La Teste de Buch in the southwestern part of the country, right on the Atlantic coast.

This region is known as New Aquitaine, and the area in which the dune is located is called the Gironde. Nearest Big City Bordeaux is 60 kilometers northeast. Dune Pyla is located right at the entrance to Arcachon Bay.

Features of the Pyla Dune

Dune formation

Due to its geographical location, in this area westerly winds prevail, which carry sand from the coast. This explains the shape of the dune. On the ocean side it has a gentle slope, but on the opposite side it is quite steep. This is why climbing the sand mountain from the eastern side is very difficult.

Due to the influx of tourists, stairs are installed here in the summer. Climbing with their help to the top of the hill, an impressive view opens up to you - to the west Atlantic Ocean, in the east there are pine forests, and when the weather is clear, in the south you can see the Pyrenees Mountains on the border with Spain.

Dune movement

Under the influence of winds, the sand of the dunes moves steadily inland, slowly absorbing the forest, covering houses and roads. The speed of movement is not constant. Sometimes it is as much as 10 meters per year, and sometimes less than one meter per year. Over the past 57 years, the dune has moved approximately 280 meters. Thus, its speed was 4.9 meters per year.

Victims of the Pyla Dune

The movement of the dune has already swallowed up about two dozen houses. Every year, sand covers approximately 8,000 square meters of nearby pine forests.
In the northeastern part of the dune, the road was blocked in 1987, and in 1991 it was completely buried under a layer of sand.
In 1928, a family from Bordeaux built a villa in the southeastern part of the dune, and in 1936 the entire house disappeared under the sand.

Sand islands near the Pyla dune

Just 1 kilometer west of the dune, in the waters of the Atlantic, is the sandy island of Banc d'Arguin. It has similar dimensions (4.5 km by 700 meters) and stretches almost parallel to the dune. But behind this island (and again about 1 km to the west) there is another islet called Banc du Toulinguet. It is much more modest in size (approximately 700 by 400 meters). Both islands are very popular among travelers. There are always a lot of boats, boats and tourists here.

Many names for one dune

On the Internet, guidebooks and tourist brochures you will find several names for this attraction: Dune du Pilat, Dune du Pyla, Grande Dune du Pilat.

Usually outside of France the name Pyla Dune is used, but few people know that the official (and therefore correct) name of the attraction is Dune du Pilat (Pilate Dune). At least, this is the name used in all official French documents. It is derived from the Gascon word "pilhat", which means "heap" or "mound".

The seaside resort of Pyla sur Mer, founded in 1920 and part of La Teste de Buch, extends north of the dune. The first part of its name led to confusion in names.
Despite official name dunes, road signs have different names. The main thing is, don’t be embarrassed or worry, they all lead to the same place.

1. Dune Pyla is quite a famous and visited attraction in France. More than a million tourists storm its dunes every year.
2. On January 24, 2009, during a storm on the Pila dune, a maximum speed winds 175 km/h. As a result of this storm, the dune was significantly damaged
3. Due to the strong winds in the dune area, there are ideal conditions for paragliding. This is what many fans of this entertainment take advantage of.