«Eternally» windblown sands at the Don steppes

Abstract

Wind velocity increases within deep river valleys with high slopes (confuser effect). Under such conditions asymmetric ridges are formed 'on the sands of Valdai (Wiirmian) river terraces, transversal to prevailing wind direction, and barldians develop .at their tops. The ridges have oscillatory movement and have not been covered by vegetation since at least Late Pleistocene (23-16 thousand y. B. P.). The authors suggest to create reservations at these sites and to conserve them as rare natural phenomena.