What is an erg in geography?
Quick Answer
An erg is a large desert area covered by wind-blown sand dunes. It is sometimes called a sand sea.
The Full Story
Ergs are one of the classic landforms of hot deserts, but they make up only a small part of most desert regions. The sand is moved and shaped by wind into dune fields that can stretch for hundreds of kilometers. Famous examples include the Grand Erg Oriental in Algeria and the Rub' al Khali, also known as the Empty Quarter, on the Arabian Peninsula. Ergs usually form where sediment is abundant and vegetation is sparse enough for wind to transport sand freely. They are distinct from rocky deserts, gravel plains, and salt flats.
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