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Dunes Along the Kuiseb River

Image of the Day for August 15, 2000

NASA Earth Observatory

Aug 15, 2000
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The Kuiseb River in Namibia is bordered on one side by the tallest sand dunesin the world, and on the other by barren rock. The red sand dunes south of the riverreach heights over 150 meters. The prevailing winds blow the dunes northward, buttheir movement is blocked by the river. In the process, so much sand andsilt is deposited in the Kuiseb that it only reaches the sea whileit is in flood.

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Animation by Jesse Allen, NASA GSFC, based on data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission and Landsat 7.

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Dunes Along the Kuiseb River

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