Geology Picture of the Week, August 17-23, 2003

Space Imaging ^ | February 23, 2003

[cogitator]

I saw this a couple of weeks ago, and kept it in mind for a Geology Picture of the Week. I think this is one of the most fascinating National Monuments in our country. I've been here, but I haven't been to White Sands NM.

Link to page with larger versions of the image:

Image of the Week: February 23, 2003

[cogitator]

Is somebody that's crazy about big piles of sand a dunatic?

[cogitator]

** ping **

[dirtboy]

I've been there. You've got a big valley to the west, the only desert in Colorado, and a very high, steep mountain range with one low spot. The winds blow across the valley, pick up sand, and then drop it as they are funnelled to the low spot and lifted upwards.

Some of the dunes are 700 feet high.

[r9etb]

The Sand Dunes are a great place to visit around Mother's Day. Medano Creek is running then, and it's a blast to play in.

The most fascinating aspect of the area -- at least during spring, when I've been there -- is the effect of sunlight on the sand and water temperature. As long as the sun is out, they're warm. As soon as the sun goes behind clouds, though, the water gets icy cold.

[cogitator]

The winds blow across the valley, pick up sand, and then drop it as they are funnelled to the low spot and lifted upwards.

I was there in the winter (it was probably in the 50s) and went for a hike in the dunes. I had to beg some fellow hikers for some lip balm before my lips cracked off in the cool, strong, and extremely dry wind.

[Lil'freeper]

I've been there, and to Coral Pink dunes in UT.

'Body sledding' down them is a riot.

[tet68]

That would take a lot of grit.

[Lil'freeper]

Well, you do tend to itch afterwards.

.
.
.
. And you're rusty-colored, too.

[cogitator]

That would take a lot of grit.

Unless it's a work of non-friction.

[tet68]

Kewl looking place,isn't America great.

[PoorMuttly]

Looks like Elvis.

[jrawk]

White Sands doesn't have dunes as big, but it is a better party! Try on a full moon when the park stays open until midnight.

-- lates
-- jrawk

[herkbird]

The Sleeping Bear National Sand Dunes in Michigan, are also a magnificent place to have fun. Of course there only about 300 feet tall, they are very steep and you can jump from the top, and in one step be at the bottom.

Michigan has some really nice sand dunes all along Lake Michigan. Silver Lake, also in Michigan, also has wonderful sand dunes that many drive Dune Buggies on. They have about 15 - 20 miles of trails there.

The Pure White sand along Lake Michigan is like heaven. It's a shame that some of the largest Sand Dunes along the lake have been mined for industry, leaving flat spots where majestically beautiful sand dunes once stood.

[cogitator]

I thought you (members of the ping list) might be interested in the similarities of the Mars Image of the Day (link below) to the Great Sand Dunes crater image.

Intracrater Dune Field

Make sure to click on the image to see the large version, which was too big to post here.