Ergs

Connected Sites: 5

Definition
WHS set within or containing an "Erg". Defined in Wiki thus - "An erg (also sand sea or dune sea, or sand sheet if it lacks dunes) is a broad, flat area of desert covered with wind-swept sand with little or no vegetative cover. The word is derived from the Arabic word ʿarq (عرق), meaning "dune field". Strictly speaking, an erg is defined as a desert area that contains more than 125 km2 (48 sq mi) of aeolian or wind-blown sand[3] and where sand covers more than 20% of the surface." Provide a reference which demonstrates that the WHS includes such an area.

Map

Connected Sites

  • Namib Sand Sea
    Inscribed: 2013
    4.08
    114
    4
    Numerous mentions in the Nom File. eg "The ephemeral water courses flowing into the erg form oases sparsely marked by trees"
  • Air and Téneré
    Inscribed: 1991
    3.14
    2
    1
    "The "live dunes" of the Téneré are an example of erosion under way the landscape is rapidly modified on a geological time scale by the displacement and deposition of sand" (IUCN eval). There is no Nom File but the actual word is applied on the Site's UNESCO page with a photo of "A dune sea (Erg) between Fachi and Bilma."
  • 'Uruq Bani Ma'arid
    Inscribed: 2023
    2.59
    10
    1
    "35 longitudinal sand dunes (‘uruq in Arabic) reach up to 200 km in length and rise up to 170 m in height." (AB ev)
  • El Pinacate
    Inscribed: 2013
    3.08
    16
    5
    "the Gran Altar Desert, North America's largest field of active sand dunes and only active Erg dunes" (AB ev)
  • Lut Desert
    Inscribed: 2016
    3.40
    25
    3
    ".... 6 - Star Dunes With Cresentic Ridge (Central Erg), ......8 - Linear Dunes With Silk and Chaotic Dunes and Some Outcrop of Lut Formation (Southern Erg) ...." . From list of inscribed areas in Nom File