Imperial Dunes in the late afternoon with wind ripples and three creosote bushes. These high dunes are constantly moving.
a northwest-southeast line that correlates to the prevailing northerly and westerly wind directions. The name "Algodones Dunes" refers to the entire geographic feature, while the administrative designation for that portion managed by the Bureau of Land Management is the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (sometimes called the Glamis Dunes). The Algodones Dunes are split into many different sections. These sections include Glamis, Gordon's Well, Buttercup, Midway, and Patton's Valley. Although the Spanish word algodones translates to the English word cotton, the name Algodones is a corruption of the Spanish and English names of the Yuman tribe that once dwelt nearby. The Imperial Sand Dunes, sometimes called the Algodones Dunes, are the largest mass of sand dunes in California. This dune system extends for more than 40 miles along the eastern edge of the Imperial Valley agricultural region in a band averaging five miles in width. Rising to heights of over 300 feet above the surrounding desert floor, the dunes are a well-known landmark to local residents and the thousands of highway travelers who pass by them every year. While summer temperatures often rise above 110°F and annual rainfall averages less than two inches, the mild climate between October and May attracts tens of thousands of off highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts to the area.
Size: 4256px × 2832px
Location: Imperial Dunes, Imperial County, California, USA
Photo credit: © Vincent Palermo / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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