Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Reserve

About Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Reserve

The park is a wonderful place to take pictures, play on the sand, take pictures and drive - with road vehicles. When you enter the dunes, you will be greeted by the sound of breaking waves and the smell of salt water in the air. The sand is coloured with waves, rusts and arches, with a bright pink colour similar to the colour of the ocean.

This sand is Navajo sandstone from a geological period known as the Middle Jurassic. The geology of the sand dunes is a fascinating subject, and the park is an excellent place not to miss this unique geological feature.

The same iron oxide minerals that make up this spectacular red-rock land are responsible for the coral-pink sand landscape, as well as the red sand itself.

This unique influence is caused by notches in the Moquith and Moccasin Mountains, and this phenomenon is called the Venturi Affect. The wind blows from the north and increases its speed to the point where it can carry grains of sand, eroding the Navajo sandstone.

When the wind blows through a notch in the open valley, its speed decreases, causing the sand to settle. The dunes are considered to be the largest dune system in North America and one of the most diverse. They support various insect populations, including only the coral pink tiger beetles that occur here. Melting snow often creates small ponds that feed amphibians such as salamanders and toads.