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How do star dunes form near Sossusvlei?
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Namib
Sand dunes and vegetation at Sossusvlei in the Namib desert, Namibia.
Star dunes, also known as pyramidal dunes, form near Sossusvlei due to the influence of winds blowing regularly from multiple directions.
While the primary winds in this region of the Namib desert blow from the south, the dunes are also shaped by winds originating from the east along the Tsauchab valley, as well as warm, dry winter winds arriving from the northeast. This multidirectional wind action causes the sand to accumulate into a central peak with long "arms" radiating outward, creating a shape that resembles a starfish when viewed from above. These massive formations, which can reach heights of up to 1,065 feet (325 meters), are constantly being shaped and reshaped by these shifting wind patterns.1