Bizarre Natural Phenomena Vol. 66 - White Sand Blues (The Lagoons Of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park)

Did you enjoy last week's cold phenomenon of the ice caves in Alaska? Would you like some more natural "bizareness" to keep you going for the rest of the week? We don't need to go very far from our past episode, just a few thousand kilometers to the South and to beautiful Brazil to witness the spectacular views of a complex of blue lagoons in a white desert.

Lagoons in the desert, you mean oases? 

No, I mean lagoons in a place that actually is not a desert, but a complex of white sand dunes and it's no other than: 

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

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Image from: wikipedia.org - Courtesy of: Heris Luiz Cordeiro Rocha - License: CC BY-SA 3.0

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With a name that translates into bedsheets of Maranhão, the area receives about 47 inches of rain annually, so it cannot be referred to as a desert (deserts receive less than 10 inches of rainfall per year). The park extends over a 70-km long shoreline and offers one-of-a-kind views that make every visitor think they are in a fairy tale. [1, 2, 3, 4]

And where does the sand come from?

Two rivers, the Parnaíba and the Preguiças, carry it on their journey from the mainland to the open sea to meet with the Atlantic ocean. The sand is then deposited along the northern coast and forms these beautiful sand dunes that may rise to be even 40 meters high. [1, 2, 3, 4]

The strong winds during the dry season, and especially from October to November, sculpt the ever-changing landscape and leave sandy hills behind. The winds are carrying the sand back inland to distances as long as 50 kilometers and over an area of 1,500 square km. Later, when the rains begin from January to June, the pools created by the dunes gather the fresh rainwater. Those pools can be as big as 100 meters in diameter and as deep as 3 meters. [1, 2, 3, 4]

In July you'll find the lakes holding most of the water they'll ever have for the year. It's then that they can connect with each other, as rivers sometimes pass through the dunes and can also leave fish behind. Once in there, the fish eat other fish or insect larvae; some species (like the wolf fish) are so well adapted that spend the dry season hidden in the mud and wait patiently for the rain to re-fill the basins next year. [1, 2, 3, 4]

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Image from: wikipedia.org - Courtesy of: Iain and Sarah (from London, UK) - License: CC BY 2.0

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And why the water doesn't run off through the sand?

One would expect for the rainwater to percolate, since the sand can absorb rainwater. But this is not the case here, because underneath the sand there is a layer of impermeable rock, preventing water from escaping into the underground. [1]

Anything else other than fish in the area?

If you move farther from the lagoons, you'll also find two oases in the area inhabited by almost 100 of people, who live in mud huts. Of course in the wider area you can find villages, but these people live by the sand dunes. The people of the sand dunes have to adjust their lifestyle to the season, so their activities vary throughout the year; they raise animals and plant vegetables during the dry season and when the rains come, they move towards the sea to set their fishing camps. [1, 2, 3, 4]

When to visit?

The best season to pay this place a visit would be from June to September, as the beauty of the place is incomparable and the temperatures bearable. The lakes still hold enough water and you can see fish or take a swim or simply load your phone with hundreds oh photos. Don't forget to take your hats and sunscreen with you though, along with plenty of liquids to keep you hydrated before going hiking on the dunes. And if you don't want to get lost in the vast dune park, it's always advisable that you book a guided tour, just to be on the safe side. [3, 5]

Do you want some more great photos?

Make sure you go through these links to see more amazing shots: huffingtonpost.com and adventurous-travels.com.

And how about a video tour?

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Remember?

Other spectacular "deserts" we've seen on this blog were the the salt pans of Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia and Sosusvlei in Namibia.

Image from: maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com 

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References

[1] wikipedia.org
[2] nationalgeographic.com
[3] smithsonianmag.com
[4] theculturetrip.com
[5] pbincoming.com
[6] huffingtonpost.com
[7] adventurous-travels.com

Thank you so much for your time!

Until my next post,
Steem on and keep smiling, people!