The lonely barchan dunes of the northern Skeleton Coast hold a unique distinction – they roar – and if you don’t believe it, sit down on a lee face, dig in your feet and slide slowly down. If you feel a jarring vibration and hear a roar akin to a four-engine cargo plane flying low, don’t bother looking up – it’s just the sand producing its marvelous acoustic effect.
It’s thought the roar is created when air pockets between electrically-charged particles are forced to the surface. The effect is especially pronounced in the warmth of late afternoon, when spaces between the sand particles are at their greatest.
|
