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All Cape Verde Boa Vista Viana Desert

Viana Desert

Rolling sand dunes of the Sahara... in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Boa Vista, Cape Verde

Added By
Jaszmina Szendrey
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  Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
From the edge of the “desert” Sept 2023   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
  Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
  Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean off of Africa's western coast sits the island of Boa Vista, known for its marine life, traditional music, and something more unusual: a small patch of desert on the northwestern part of the island, formed by the accumulation of wandering sand grains from the Sahara.

Great volumes of sand are continuously carried from the African continent towards the sea by trade winds. Much of this sand is deposited on Boa Vista because of its proximity to the mainland and the particular shape of the terrain. The resulting desert patch makes for an unlikely landscape on the island—rolling dunes of white sands interspersed with black volcanic rocks and very sparse vegetation.

This small extension of the Sahara is protected by the Government of Cape Verde, which forbids the use of motorized vehicles and promotes the construction of stone walls to limit the movement of the sand dunes toward the coast.

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Geology Geological Oddities Islands Dunes

Community Contributors

Added By

Jaszmina Szendrey

Edited By

Blindcolour, Dr Alan P Newman

  • Blindcolour
  • Dr Alan P Newman

Published

October 17, 2016

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  • http://www.boavistaofficial.com/EN/excursion-desert-dunes-viana-boavista-cape-verde.php
Viana Desert
Unnamed Road
Rabil
Boa Vista
Cape Verde
16.137641, -22.866027
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Ruins of Fabrica de Chave

Boa Vista, Cape Verde

miles away

Wreckage of M/S Cabo Santa Maria

Boa Vista, Cape Verde

miles away

Curral Velho

Boa Vista, Cape Verde

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Boa Vista

Boa Vista

Cape Verde

Places 4

Nearby Places

Ruins of Fabrica de Chave

Boa Vista, Cape Verde

miles away

Wreckage of M/S Cabo Santa Maria

Boa Vista, Cape Verde

miles away

Curral Velho

Boa Vista, Cape Verde

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Boa Vista

Boa Vista

Cape Verde

Places 4

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