Great Kobuk Sand Dunes, Arctic sand dunes in Northwest Arctic Borough, United States.
The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes are massive sand formations located within Kobuk Valley in Alaska, rising up to 30 meters (100 feet) above the surrounding terrain. This desert-like landscape contrasts sharply with the tundra and forest that surround it.
These dunes formed around 28,000 years ago when glaciers from the last Ice Age ground rock into fine sand. As the ice retreated, it left behind these expansive sand fields as remnants of ancient glacial activity.
Local Indigenous groups hunted in this region for thousands of years, relying on the land for food and materials adapted to Arctic life. Traces of ancient camps remain visible to those who explore the dunes.
Getting here requires a chartered aircraft or floatplane since the site is remote and accessible only by air or water. The short Arctic summer offers the best window for visiting when weather is most stable and temperatures are warmest.
Summer temperatures in this Arctic location can surprisingly climb to about 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit), creating a desert-like environment. This unexpected warmth in one of the world's coldest regions makes for a striking contrast with brutal winter conditions.
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