Mountains are big, solid, immovable landmasses. Mountains move so slowly over time that it’s impossible to see them move across roads, cover houses, and bury trees.

Or is it?

In fact, some mountain formations move from year to year. In a way, mountains can move fairly quickly because huge shifting, swirling desert sand dunes are often called moving mountains. These dunes move because powerful winds blow them across the desert creating sand storms.

Sand dunes can be blown into many different shapes and sizes depending on the direction and force of the wind. The most common shapes that wind can create in the sand resemble crescent moons, or ripples in a rough sea.

Many people think deserts do not change much throughout the year, but deserts have seasons, too. Desert sand dunes also change depending on seasonal wind patterns. In the Wahibah Desert in the Middle Eastern country of Oman, for instance, scientists on an expedition found that the movement of a sand dune is greatest in the summer.

Sand dunes can also make sounds. They can squeak, growl, or roar. These sounds are made when a mound of sand breaks and topples down a steep dune.

Sand dunes are very interesting to learn about because they are much different from other geological formations.

[Source: Natures Masterpieces]