14 March 1984
On the way back home from our trip to Lake Powell, we stopped to check out Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Established in 1963, the park covers 3,730 square miles (9,660 sq km). Estimated to be 10,000 to 15,000 years old, the dunes are formed from the erosion of the pink Navajo sandstone in the cliffs surrounding the park. A notch between the Moquith and Moccasin mountains funnels the prevailing winds, increasing their velocity to a point where they can carry sand grains in what is called the Venturi Effect. When the winds lose speed, they drop the grains of sand they’re carrying and voila, the dunes are born.
It was cold and the wind was blowing, so we didn’t play long in this giant sandbox, but we did climb a dune or two while we were there.
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