Exploring the Most Unusual Landscapes on Earth: 6 Wondrous Deserts
From the hot and barren sands of the Sahara to the surreal rock formations of the Namib, deserts are some of the most unique, strange, and wondrous landscapes on earth. Explorers, scientists, and travelers have long been fascinated by the alien beauty of deserts, and the incredible variety of landscapes they offer. For the adventurous explorer, deserts provide an opportunity to experience some of the most spectacular and wondrous sights on the planet. This article explores six of the most unusual desert landscapes on Earth.
1. Erg Chebbi: The golden dunes of the Sahara
The Sahara Desert is not only the largest hot desert in the world, but also a place of immense beauty and mystery. Covering much of North Africa, the Sahara is a mesmerizing landscape that offers a truly unforgettable experience for travelers and adventurers.
Located in southeastern Morocco, Erg Chebbi is a majestic expanse of golden sand dunes that span an area of approximately 22 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide. These towering dunes, reaching heights of up to 500 feet, create a surreal and enchanting landscape that is ideal for exploration. Visitors can embark on a camel trek across the dunes, immersing themselves in the tranquility and grandeur of the desert. As the day draws to a close, witnessing a breathtaking sunset over the dunes is an experience that will forever be etched in your memory.
Starry Desert Nights
The Sahara is renowned for its mesmerizing nights. Away from the light pollution of cities, the desert sky becomes a captivating spectacle of stars. As darkness falls, the vastness of the universe reveals itself, and the twinkling stars create a sense of awe and wonder. Many desert camps offer overnight stays, providing the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Bedouin-style dinner, listen to live music, and sleep under the magical canopy of stars.
2. The mystical beauty of the Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert, located in northern Chile, is a place of captivating beauty and unique landscapes, where the beauty of nature meets the mysteries of the cosmos. One of the driest deserts in the world, the Atacama receives an average of just 1 inch (25 mm) of rainfall per year. The landscape is characterized by vast stretches of dunes, stone forests, and salt lakes. Its vast expanse is mystical and often otherworldly in appearance.
Valle de la Luna: The Valley of the Moon
One of the most mesmerizing attractions in the Atacama Desert is the Valle de la Luna, or The Valley of the Moon. This ethereal landscape, characterized by its lunar-like features, transports visitors to another world. The valley is adorned with sharp rock formations, vast salt flats, and towering dunes, creating a surreal and mystical atmosphere. As the sun sets, the landscape transforms, and the valley’s unique geological formations are bathed in a golden glow, offering a truly unforgettable sight.
Geysers del Tatio: A Spectacle of Nature
Located at over 14,000 feet above sea level, the Geysers del Tatio are a natural wonder in the Atacama Desert. This geothermal field is home to over 80 active geysers, making it the largest geyser field in the southern hemisphere. Visitors can witness the spectacle of fumaroles and steam columns erupting from the ground, creating a mesmerizing display of nature’s power. At sunrise, the contrasting temperatures between the cold air and the hot geothermal activity create an enchanting scene of steam rising against the backdrop of the rising sun.
3. A journey through Death Valley
Another must-visit destination is Death Valley National Park, located within the Mojave Desert in southern California. Despite its harsh conditions — it’s the hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the United States — Death Valley is surprisingly diverse, with salt flats, sand dunes, colorful canyons, and even snow-capped mountains. Home to some of the most unique and breathtaking natural features in the United States, this unique desert displays a world of extremes and unparalleled natural beauty. These are just a few of the many sights to be seen in Death Valley National Park:
The mysterious moving stones of Racetrack Playa
Racetrack Playa is a large, flat, dry lakebed that is best known for its mysterious sliding rocks. These rocks, which can weigh up to several hundred pounds, leave long trails behind them as they move across the desert floor, seemingly on their own. The trails can be hundreds or even thousands of feet long and are thought to be formed by a combination of wind, ice, and water. The exact mechanism behind the rocks’ movement is still a mystery and has puzzled scientists and visitors alike for decades.
Badwater Basin
This salt flat is one of the lowest points in North America and is located at 282 feet below sea level. It stretches over 200 square miles and is a vast expanse of white, flat land. It is a surreal sight and a must-see for anyone visiting Death Valley.
Artist’s Drive
This scenic drive winds through a colorful and dramatic landscape. The canyons and hillsides are made up of various minerals that create a rainbow of colors, including hues of purple, pink, green, and gold. There are also unique geological formations such as mudstone hills, winding canyons, and deep gorges.
4. Experiencing the serene majesty of the Namib Desert
The Namib Desert, located along the western coast of Namibia, is a place of serene majesty and breathtaking beauty. It is one of the oldest deserts in the world, with truly remarkable landscapes. Embarking on a journey through the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Namib allows you to connect with nature on a profound level and let its serene beauty captivate your soul.
Sossusvlei: A Dune Lover’s Paradise
One of the most iconic attractions in the Namib Desert is Sossusvlei, a salt and clay pan surrounded by towering dunes. These dunes are renowned for their vibrant colors, ranging from deep reds to fiery oranges. Climbing to the top of one of these dunes offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding desert, with contrasting colors and patterns creating a visual feast for the eyes. As the sun rises or sets, the dunes come alive with ever-changing hues, creating a truly magical experience.
Deadvlei: A Surreal Landscape
Just a short distance from Sossusvlei lies Deadvlei, a surreal and hauntingly beautiful landscape. Here, the ancient camel thorn trees stand starkly against the white clay pan, which is surrounded by red sand dunes. The contrasting colors and the desolate atmosphere make Deadvlei a photographer’s dream. It is a place that evokes a sense of timeless wonder and serves as a reminder of the harsh yet captivating nature of the desert.
Skeleton Coast: A Desert Meeting the Sea
Stretching along the Atlantic Ocean, the Skeleton Coast is a unique blend of desert and oceanic landscapes. Its name derives from the numerous shipwrecks that punctuate the coastline, serving as a haunting reminder of the treacherous waters.
5. The Painted Desert
Situated in the southwestern United States, the Painted Desert is a vibrant and colorful desert landscape characterized by rich hues of red, orange, and purple. The layered rock formations, ancient petroglyphs, and spectacular sunsets make it a photographer’s dream.
Vibrant Colors
One of the most notable features of the Painted Desert is its vibrant and diverse colors. The landscape is composed of a variety of sediments and minerals, including iron oxide, manganese, and gypsum, which create a stunning array of reds, oranges, pinks, purples, yellows, and grays. The colors change throughout the day depending on the angle of the sun, making it a unique and constantly changing landscape.
This desert is also characterized by its badlands, which are a type of terrain that is heavily eroded and marked by steep slopes, sharp ridges, and intricate formations. The badlands in the Painted Desert are particularly striking due to their colorful layers of sediment and unique formations, such as hoodoos, spires, and mesas.
Petrified Wood
Another distinctive feature of the Painted Desert is its abundance of petrified wood. The area was once covered by a dense forest of conifers during the Late Triassic period, around 225 million years ago. Over time, the trees were buried by sediment and volcanic ash, which helped preserve them and eventually turned them into stone. Today, visitors can see large deposits of petrified wood scattered throughout the desert, which are some of the oldest and largest known in the world.
6. Witnessing the extraordinary sights of the Gobi Desert
The Gobi Desert is a vast desert that stretches across Mongolia and China. Its enchanting landscape offers an array of extraordinary sights and experiences. Here are some of the remarkable sights you can witness in the Gobi Desert:
Majestic Sand Dunes
One of the iconic features of the Gobi Desert is its magnificent sand dunes. These towering dunes, sculpted by the wind, create a mesmerizing landscape that seems to stretch endlessly. Known as Khongoryn Els or the “Singing Sand Dunes,” these dunes can reach heights of nearly 1000 feet. Visitors can climb to the top of these dunes for breathtaking views of the surrounding desert and witness the shifting sands in all their glory.
Flaming Cliffs
The “Flaming Cliffs,” also known as Bayanzag, are a unique geological formation in the Gobi Desert. The cliffs get their name from the vibrant red and orange hues they take on during sunset, giving the illusion of being on fire. These cliffs are not only visually stunning but also hold great paleontological significance. It was here that the first dinosaur eggs were discovered, making it a haven for paleontologists and dinosaur enthusiasts.
Yol Valley
Yol Valley, also known as Yolyn Am or “Mouth of the Vulture,” is a picturesque gorge located within the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. This lush valley is an oasis amidst the desert, with a river flowing through it and towering cliffs on either side. During the winter months, the river freezes, creating a stunning ice canyon that is a sight to behold.
From the scorching heat of the Sahara to the alien landscapes of the Atacama, deserts offer a unique and wondrous experience for any explorer. With their strange and surreal beauty, these six deserts are some of the most unusual places on Earth. And they just only a few unique and unusual desert landscapes on our planet that captivate the imagination and inspire exploration!
