California Sand Dunes

Just west of Yuma, a few miles into California are the great sand dunes. They are drifts of sand, hundreds of feet high, dozens of miles wide and hundreds of miles long. The dunes are pure sand, no dirt or rocks. You'd think you were at an exotic beach.
Because they are pure sand with no eco system, dune buggies are allowed. On long weekends, thousands of dune buggies roar through the dunes. On a usual weekend, at least 2 or 3 are killed by colliding or overturning. 3 were killed the weekend we arrived at Yuma; no, not because we arrived.


As cars became more popular, early in the 20th century, a way had to be found to cross the great sand dunes from California to Yuma. It was the last obstacle to crossing the continent by car. Cars got stuck in the sand. A floating wooden road was developed, made of sections 8' wide and 12' long. As it became covered with sand, sections could be lifted or moved. At one time over 20 miles of this road was used. Every mile a pull off was placed so cars could pass. This was used until the first paved road was laid.
The Mexican border goes through the dunes. As part of the American border security, a fence hundreds of miles long is being built along the Mexican border. Here you can see it as it disappears in the distance. The fence is 12' high and border patrols cover its full distance.


A canal from Yuma to San Diego passed through the dunes. It takes water from the Colorado river and is used for irrigation. Almost 3/4 of it has been leaking into the sand so they are building a new canal beside the existing one which they are lining with poly to prevent the water loss. Some of the sand dune deaths have been caused by people flying over the top of a dune and falling into the canal and drowning.