Renowned as one of the most captivating natural wonders in Doha the Singing Sand Dunes are no ordinary tourist attraction in Qatar. As one of 30 sites in the entire globe to contain sand dunes that produce its own mesmerizing music the venue is a veritable national landmark of sorts for visitors from far and wide who flock to witness this natural phenomenon first hand.
Sand dunes producing noises is an ancient precedent that has taken place in the Middle Eastern desert landscape for more than 1500 years. Often described as sounds that resemble signing or humming the soundscape created by the sand dunes of yore have also been known to resemble squeaking and roaring sounds. The varied sounds emitted from the sand dunes are so entrenched in Qatari culture that the sounds are believed to be those made by evil Djinns. This is a sentiment echoed by iconic explorer Marco Polo who having heard the Singing Sand Dunes nearly 700 years ago attributed them to those of evil spirits. Scientists however believe that the sound is a result of the dune’s geographical placement resembling a semi circle which in turn creates a natural amphitheatre of sorts where sounds are bounced off one sand dune to another in a curvature.
Conveniently placed a mere 40km from the heart of Doha the Singing Sand Dunes are easily accessible to visitors from around the world although one must visit during the dryer seasons of the year as moisture literally dampens the chances of hearing the music as the sound produced by soggy dunes are far less impressive. Other highlights when touring the Singing Sand Dune area include the various desert birds and lizards one encounters on the way to the dunes as well as the yellow flowers that grow abundantly against the desert backdrop. Often regarded as a breathtaking venue for shutterbugs the landscape of the Singing Sand Dunes are some of the most spectacular desert scenes one could hope to come across on a tour of Doha.
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Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.