Chara Sands, Protected sand area in Zabaikalsky region, Russia
Chara Sands is a protected sand area in Zabaikalsky region, nestled between pine and larch forests in a valley stretch near the Kodar Mountains. The dunes rise up to 30 meters high and form gentle crests interrupted by small ponds and low grasses.
The sands formed from deposits of a glacial lake that existed between 55,000 and 100,000 years ago. Glaciers from the Kodar range fed this lake until the retreat of ice masses left the basin dry.
Reindeer herds cross the dunes on seasonal routes and use the small lakes as watering spots. Local herders know these patterns and adjust their movements to the rhythm of the animals.
Visiting is easiest in summer when roads to the sand field are passable and temperatures allow for moderate day hikes. The village of Chara is nearby and offers starting points for tours that may take several hours.
Annual rainfall measures around 35 centimeters, relatively low for Siberia and favorable for dune formation. Geologists study this formation because it helps explain how sand fields develop in cold climates.
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