The Rare and Rusted Coral Pink Sand-Dunes
May 2021
Nature’s Natural Rust
We spotted a flyer in our studio advertising the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, which is the only major sand dune field on the Colorado Plateau. Since it wasn’t too far from Kanab, we decided to go see it.
The Coral Pink Sand Dunes really stand out because of their color. Most dunes are white or tan, but these get their pink shade from the erosion of Navajo Sandstone cliffs around the park. These cliffs contain hematite, a reddish-black iron oxide. Basically, the dunes are rusted. They are thought to be about 10,000 to 15,000 years old, but they still shift and change every day. The Venturi principle explains how this happens: the narrow gap between the Moquith and Moccasin Mountains makes the wind speed up, which carries sand into the valley. When the wind slows down, the sand drops and forms the dunes.
Another interesting feature is the rare Coral Pink Tiger Beetle. In this isolated area, the beetle has evolved to blend in with the color of the sand for camouflage. To protect this species, the park has set up conservation areas to keep the beetle’s habitat safe.
.
The rest of the park is meant for recreation. Some people were sliding down the sand dunes on boards, while others were driving off-highway vehicles. It’s not typically seen as a hiking park, since the official Nature Trail is only 0.8 miles long. Even though the designated trail was short, walking through the very soft sand on the dunes provided a nice workout for us.
