Singing Sand Dunes of Kazakhstan

The Singing Sand Dunes of Kazakhstan can be found (or heard) in the Altyn-Emel State National Park, the country's largest national park. The singing sand dunes, also knows as whistling sand or barking sand, is dessert sand that produces sound. This phenomenon is caused by wind passing over dunes or by walking on the sand which create small avalanches and in turn creates the sound. The most common sound frequency emitted is said to be close to 450 Hz.

Singing sand dune in Altyn-Emel National Park, Almaty Province, Kazakhstan. (Source)

Most often the sound created by this singing dune is in single musical note, either G, E or F.

Singing sand dune in Altyn-Emel National Park, Almaty Province, Kazakhstan. (Source)

Singing sand dune in Altyn-Emel National Park, Almaty Province, Kazakhstan. (Source)

There are approximately 30 sites in the world where the sand produces sound naturally. Certain conditions have to come together to create singing sand:
- the sand grains have to be round and between 0.1 and 0.5 mm in diameter.
- the sand has to contain silica.
- the sand needs to be a certain humidity

The sound have been described as "roaring" or "booming", as you can hear in this video.