Washington state has very different landscapes to offer including deserts, but also beaches, forests, mountains, volcanoes, and several coastal islands. The state is separated by the the Cascade Mountains which determine what kind of climate you are going to find: wet areas filled with pineforests to the west; dry, arid…
Algeria is the largest country in Africa, and much of its territory is covered by the Sahara desert. There are countless massive sand dunes where sand surfing can be practiced, albeit in somewhat remote locations of Algeria. Sand skiing near Djanet, Algeria. Photo courtesy of Olivier Lepetit. Algeria Sand Dunes…
Sand boarding and dune sledding present unique difficulties that make traditional types of board sports equipment poorly suitable for riding on sand. It wasn’t until board manufacturers started using Formica laminate sheets and other smooth surfaces for the sandboard bases that riders could achieve high speeds and perform daring tricks…
Approximately three-fourths of Mauritania is a desert or semidesert, with nothing but sand in much of the center and northern part of the country. The desert plateaus gradually descend toward the northeast to the barren El Djouf, or "Empty Quarter", a vast region of imponent sand dunes that merges into…
Formerly known as "Nappanerica", the Big Red sand dune is the largest and most famous dune in Queensland's Simpson Desert, located 33kms west of Birdsville. The area comprises over 1100 dunes and is a paradise for 4WD off-road drivers, sandboarders, and desert dwellers venturing into the Australian Outback. Sunset view from Big…
The landlocked region of Gauteng in South Africa does not have any coastal dunes, but it is still possible to practice sand surfing at Mount Mayhem mine dumps, located in Boksburg about half a hour drive from Johannesburg and just outside of Benoni. Mount Mayhem Sandboarding. Sandboarding at Mt. Mayhem…
A hiking trip to the desert presents many logistical and organizational challenges regarding hydration, protection from sunlight, and dealing with extreme temperature changes between day and night. Having the necessary desert hiking gear and following a few precaution tips will ensure that your hike goes as smoothly as possible. As…
Deserts are by definition inhospitable environments with little to no vegetation, but there are actually quite a few species of plants that adapted to live in these arid conditions. The adaptations of these desert plants make it so that the bulbs often stay dormant under the ground for several months,…
What are desert plants and how do they adapt and survive? List of interesting plants, flowers, trees, cacti and succulents that grow in the desert - with pictures.
Ever heard of booming sand dunes? Sometimes, in the silence of the desert, the voice of the dunes can be heard. As the wind blows or as a result of trampling, in fact, the dunes "sing": they emit very distinct sounds, different depending on the size of the grains of…
