Located near Olduvai Gorge lies the spectacular, yet mysterious, ash dunes of Shifting Sands. Formed from volcanic ash, these crescent-shaped dunes are a rare phenomenon, and are technically referred to as barkan. These dunes are formed when there’s ample dust on the ground and a unidirectional wind to create the moving effect. The volcanic ash (or dust) collects around a rock, and continually gathers until it forms what appears to be a small sand dune. This process is continuous, and as it progresses the unidirectional wind causes the dune to move. In the case of these Shifting Sands, they tend […]