Where is the largest sand dune in the world?

The Badain Jaran Desert in northern China holds some of the tallest stationary sand dunes on Earth, with the highest reaching around 500 metres from base to crest. These giant dunes remain in place partly because of hidden groundwater that helps hold them together, and the desert is dotted with small lakes between the dunes. Cerro Blanco in Peru is another candidate for the tallest dune, rising sharply from the desert floor. In Namibia, the towering dunes of Sossusvlei are famous for their deep red colour. Measuring dune height depends on where the base is judged to be.