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Where is it?Erg Chebbi , Morocco [ 31.07988204 , -3.986015555 ]
What ’s in the photo?A mathematical group of large " star dunes " near the bound of the Sahara desert
Star dunes are sand dunes that have at least thee ridges coming from a central peak. Their unique shape is the result of constant changes in wind direction.
Who took the photo?An unknown astronaut on dining table the International Space Station
When was it taken?Dec . 21 , 2023
This intriguing astronaut photo evince around a dozen elephantine " star dunes " as they slowly dance across a sandy field near the edge of theSahara desert . The rarefied sand dune , which are often confused with human - made Pyramid , are likely several centuries old , recent research has discover .
At ground level, the star dunes in Erg Chebbi can look like human-made pyramids when viewed from afar.
The strange complex body part are settle in Erg Chebbi . This field of opened , windswept Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin — or erg — covers around 65 hearty miles ( 170 straight kilometers ) in southwesterly Morocco along the northwest bound of the Sahara . The erg is surrounded by categoric lowlands but contains some of the tallest dunes in the Sahara , making it put up out like a mountain range when viewed from afar .
The town of Merzouga is also visible in the bottom right of the image . This settlement is work up on top of a large aquifer , or underground reservoir , which appropriate palm grove to wave alongside the barren landscape and run in holidaymaker who are look to explore the erg ’s sandy peaks .
A virtuoso dune is a type of grit dune that has at least three ridges coming from a central peak , which gives it a star - comparable Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe when viewed from above , according toNASA ’s Earth Observatory . But when they ’re viewed from the side , their multiple still gradient , known as " pillowcase faces , " can make the ace dunes take care very similar to pyramids from ground level .
These dune , which can grow to be over 300 feet ( 90 meters ) tall , form only in position where wind directions deepen constantly , which allow their different slopes to form , accord to theNational Park Service . As a result , they move by just a couple of inches every year in the focussing of the strong prevailing wind . That ’s a lot slower than some other wandering dunes , which cantravel up to 1,000 feet ( 300 m ) annuallywhen blow in a single direction .
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The largest sensation dune in Erg Chebbi , Lala Lallia , is 330 understructure ( 100 m ) tall and is located slightly to the magnetic north ( left ) of the dunes in the satellite image . In March 2024 , researchers revealed thatthis dune is around 900 age old , which is much younger than former estimates had advise .
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The same study also divulge that some of the sand buried at the alkali of this sand dune is up to 13,000 years quondam . These grain antecede an 8,000 - yr catamenia of climatic change that occurred after the final stage of the last ice years . During this time , the Sahara was temporarily transformed into a swampy surroundings covered in vegetation — a switching that ended only around 4,000 years ago , researcher pen at the fourth dimension .
On Earth , star dune are also found inChina , Namibia , Algeria , Saudi Arabia and several U.S. United States Department of State , including California and Colorado . But very similar structures can be found on Mars , accord toNASA .
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