[Article déjà publié le 4 mars 2024]
Several world-famous dunes are located there, including Dune 45, 170 meters high, and Big Daddy, which peaks at 350 meters high.
Big Daddy, the Everest of the dunes
In the southwest of Namibia there is a national park of 49,768 km², Naukluft, on the 80,900 km² of the Namib Desert, one of the oldest on the planet. Created in 1907 under the German colonial administration, it is said to be the fourth largest park in the world. In particular, you can find many wild species there, such as jackals, mountain zebras… but the park is also famous for its gigantic dunes which line the Sossusvlei site in a spectacular glowing sea.
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Between the sea mists coming from the Atlantic Ocean which borders the Namib Desert and the winds, gigantic dunes have formed at Sossusvlei, elegantly dressing the desert landscape. On this site, two dunes are particularly legendary:
- There dune 45, located 45 kilometers from the park entrance. It is attractive because it is easy to climb. In addition, it is only 300 meters from the road. It peaks at 170 meters in height. From its summit, you can easily observe the surrounding dunes.
- Big Daddy is known as the tallest dune in the park and therefore one of the tallest in the world. It rises to more than 350 meters in height. For comparison, it's about 30 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower!
How are dunes formed?
The ascent of the Big Daddy dune is less easy than that of dune 45, but the efforts of the most courageous will be rewarded, since once its summit is reached, the view of the park is divided into three colors: light orange or dark sand depending on the time of day, the black of the trunks of dead trees, and the white salt of the basins, the only traces of the ancient rivers which flowed before.
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Most of the time ephemeral reliefs built by the force of the wind(s), the dunes move and modify. This is why depending on the area, they can have a very different appearance. You can find there:
- half-moon dunes, formed by winds blowing in the same direction
- linear dunes, several kilometers long, which form through winds blowing in the same direction
- domed dunes, oval in shape, which are found on the coasts.
- star-shaped dunes from multiple directional winds. They have a pyramid shape.
Sources: deserts.fr, Sossusvlei
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
