A long time ago, some time around the 13th century, as Venetian merchant and explorer Marco Polo crossed the Gobi Desert, he thought he heard the voices of restless spirits.
Polo has been recorded as saying: "… when travellers are on the move by night, and one of them chances to lag behind or to fall asleep or the like, when he tries to gain his company again, he will hear spirits talking. Even in the daytime, one hears those spirits talking. And sometimes you shall hear the sound of a variety of musical instruments, and still more commonly the sound of drums."
Many since Polo have heard hums vibrating through the air in deserts, like the echo of a distant choir.
Is it a figment of their imagination, or are the sand dunes truly singing?
VERDICT:
TRUE
As bizarre as it sounds, and it is good to note that the world offers up many bizarre natural phenomena, this is very much a reality.
Historical records from travellers and explorers have mentioned it for centuries.
Scientists today call it "singing sand," but they're all referring to the same thing: As sand grains shuffle down the slopes of certain sand dunes, they produce a deep, groaning hum that reverberates for miles.
The sound is generated when the top layer of sand slips and rubs against the underlying layers.
This movement creates friction, and the synchronised motion of the grains results in the sound waves that we perceive as singing.
The frequency and tone can vary, influenced by the size, shape, and speed of the moving sand.
Singing dunes have been found in deserts around the world, from the Sahara to the Mojave, and even in China's Badain Jaran Desert. Each dune offers its unique melody, adding to the allure and diversity of these natural symphonies.
So, the next time you find yourself on a desert adventure, listen closely. You might just hear the mesmerising music of the sands.
References:
https://www.discovermagazine.
https://www.britannica.com/
