Algodones-Dünen

The Algodones Dunes in southeastern California form the largest dune system in North America — roughly 70 kilometers long, up to 10 kilometers wide, and rising as high as 90 meters above the adjacent Interstate 8. The sand traces its origin to the ancient Lake Cahuilla, whose beaches were gradually carried by wind into this hyper-arid basin of the Colorado Desert, which receives a mere 25 mm of rain per year. A substantial portion of the dunes is protected as a National Natural Landmark, while designated zones draw ATV riders, dune buggy enthusiasts, and sandboarders year-round. The crests offer sweeping desert panoramas, and the low-angle light at dusk carves the dune ridgelines into sharp, shifting relief.