Eureka Dunes in Death Valley, California
March 31, 2014
Photographer: Stephen Gledhill
Summary Authors: Stephen Gledhill; Jim Foster
This panorama shows nearly the entire length of the 3 miles (4.8 km) long Eureka Dunes (beige colored landform) found in Death Valley, California. It was taken about 25 minutes before sunrise on October 22, 2012. Eureka Dunes, composed chiefly of well-sorted medium-sized (0.33 mm diameter) sand grains, are one of the tallest dune complexes in North America. The highest point climbs some 680 ft (207 m) above the floor of an ancient lake bed, thought by some geologists to have been the primary source of the sand that forms the dunes. On occasion, a strange humming sound comes from the dunes. This singing is believed to result when loosely packed, spherical sand grains avalanche down the dune's steep faces.
Photo Details: Canon 7D camera; on tripod; zoom lens; focal length of 38mm; 5 frames stitched together.
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