Deadvlei

Desert World Wonders, World

Among the imposing red dunes of the Namib Naukluft National Park, in the Namib Desert, there is an area known as Dead Vlei whose literal meaning is Dead Swamp which is located among the highest dunes in the world, some in fact reach 400 meters high 'height. You will discover a strange and alien landscape that does not seem to belong to this planet.

Dead Vlei has been claimed to be surrounded by the highest sand dunes in the world, the highest reaching 300–400 meters (350m on average, named "Big Daddy" or "Crazy Dune"), which rest on a sandstone terrace. The clay pan was formed after rainfall, when the Tsauchab river flooded, creating temporary shallow pools where the abundance of water allowed camel thorn trees to grow. When the climate changed, drought hit the area, and sand dunes encroached on the pan, which blocked the river from the area. The trees died, as there no longer was enough water to survive. There are some species of plants remaining, such as salsola and clumps of nara, adapted to surviving off the morning mist and very rare rainfall. The remaining skeletons of the trees, which are believed to have died 600–700 years ago (ca. 1340-1430), are now black because the intense sun has scorched them. Though not petrified, the wood does not decompose because it is so dry.Films partly shot there include The Cell (starring Jennifer Lopez), The Fall, and Ghajini.