pyramidal dune
landform
Also known as: star dune
Quick Summary
Sossusvlei star dunes
Star dunesāsand dunes that resemble the shape of a starfish when viewed from aboveāare found near Sossusvlei in the Namib, Namibia.
A pyramidal dune, also known as a star dune, is an isolated mountain of sand formed in open desert areas by strong winds blowing from multiple directions. These dunes can reach heights of up to 300 meters (1,000 feet) and are often used as landmarks. They have a star-like shape when viewed from above, with sharp ridges rising from basal points to a central peak. Sand dunes, in general, are accumulations of sand shaped by wind and gravity, found in deserts, on beaches, and even on Mars.12
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