The Dune of Pilat in Arcachon Bay, south-west France
© aluxum/iStock/Getty Images Plu
A moving mountain of sand
Stretching out in the sun across our homepage today is Europe’s tallest sand dune, the Dune of Pilat. Here in the Arcachon Bay area of south-west France, this mountain of sand stands about 348ft (106m) above sea level and runs for about 1.7 miles in length. Each year, it moves 3ft to 16ft (1 to 5 metres) eastward, driven by Atlantic winds and tides, gradually burying the trees in the adjoining maritime pine forest below. More than just a pile of sand, this exceptional natural monument is the most-visited site in France’s Aquitaine region and is particularly beautiful at sunset, when the light lends a magical quality to this incredible landscape.
Related Images
Donkeys in a valley near Rhyolite, Nevada, United States
Dunluce Castle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Beach huts in Brighton and Hove, England
Plaza de España, Seville, Spain
The Milky Way framed by Double Arch in Arches National Park, Utah, United States
Tower Bridge in London, England
Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario, Canada
Spire Cove in Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska, United States
Today on Bing
Volcanic crater lakes on Kelimutu, Flores, Indonesia
Jun 24, 2024
Nha Phu Bay, Nha Trang, Vietnam
Jun 24, 2023
