CBSE Class 7 Social Science
Question 5 of 11
Geographical Diversity of India — Question 5
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Question What is the shape of a sand dune? While mountains are made of rock and their shape is fixed, why do you think sand dunes also have a similar shape, even though they are made of sand? (Page 12)
A sand dune usually has a crescent or ridge-like shape, with one side gently sloping and the other side steeper. Although sand dunes are made of loose sand and not solid rock like mountains, they often maintain a similar shape because of the consistent direction of wind. Wind carries sand particles and deposits them in a particular pattern, forming a dune. As long as the wind blows in the same direction, the shape of the dune remains stable. Even though the material is loose, the forces of nature especially wind direction and speed keep reshaping the sand in such a way that dunes retain a recognizable form, just like mountains maintain theirs due to the solid structure of rocks.