Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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The sand that makes up the pink-colored dunes is derived from the Navajo Sandstone
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 Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Location in Utah
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kane, Utah, United States |
| Area | 3,730 acres (15.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,000 ft (1,800 m) |
| Established | 1963 |
| Visitors | 52676 (in 2011) |
| Governing body | Utah State Parks |
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is a special place in southwestern Utah, United States. It's a state park known for its amazing sand dunes that are a unique pink color! You can find it in Kane County, between Mount Carmel Junction and Kanab. The park sits next to beautiful red sandstone cliffs.
Contents
How the Pink Dunes Were Made
The Story of the Sand
The amazing pink sand dunes were formed over thousands of years. The sand comes from pink-colored Navajo Sandstone that surrounds the park. Strong winds blow through a narrow gap between two mountains, called the Moquith and Moccasin Mountains.
Wind and Sand
As the wind rushes through this narrow gap, it speeds up. This effect, called the Venturi effect, helps the wind pick up loose sand particles. Once the wind passes the gap and slows down, it drops the sand, creating the dunes. Scientists believe these dunes are very old, possibly between 10,000 and 15,000 years old!
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is a great place for outdoor adventures.
- You can go camping and spend the night under the stars.
- There are many hiking trails to explore the unique landscape.
- If you like excitement, you can drive off-road vehicles on the dunes.
- It's also a fantastic spot for photography, especially with the beautiful pink sand.
The park has a special conservation area of about 265 acres (1.07 square kilometers). The total park area covers about 3,370 acres (13.6 square kilometers). It became a Utah state park in 1963.
Unique Animals and Plants
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is home to some very special living things you won't find anywhere else.
The Tiger Beetle
One of the most unique creatures is the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle (Cicindela albissima). This beetle is endemic to these dunes, meaning it lives only here and nowhere else in the world! It's a very rare insect.
Welsh's Milkweed
The park also protects most of the remaining plants of a rare species called Welsh's milkweed (Asclepias welshii). This plant is considered a threatened species by the government, so protecting it in the park is very important.
Images for kids
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Part of the field of sand dunes.
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Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle (Cicindela albissima)
