Not Exactly a Day at the Beach |Yucca plant at White Sands
National Monument| Climb to the top of a high sand dune and your
brain will ask questions. Why are these sand dunes here? What
type of dune formations are they? What kind of sand is it and
where did it come from? Can vegetation survive in blowing sand?
What animals live here? The answer to the first question is
always the same. Sand dunes need lots of sand, wind, and space.
Besides a considerable sand supply, the wind must be strong
enough to move the sand around and pile it up as sand hills and
dune formations reflecting the direction of the blow. And the
terrain must be receptivea place where sand and wind can become
the principal actors on an open stage. Though the mind's eye
might envision dunes as scorching, inhospitable desert places,
sand hills and ridges also occur in nondesert regions, both
inland and in coastal areas with temperate climates. These make
it possible to explore intriguing dune landscapes while enjoying
comfortable temperatures.