Namib Sand Sea
The Namib Sand Sea is the only coastal desert in the world with an extensive dune field affected by fog. The site covers over 3 million hectares, with a buffer zone of 899,500 hectares, and consists of two dune systems, an ancient semi-consolidated dune system overlain by a younger active dune system. The desert dunes are formed by rivers, ocean currents and winds transporting material thousands of kilometers inland. It features gravel plains, coastal plains, rocky hills, isolated mountains in the sand sea, coastal lagoons and seasonal rivers, forming an exceptionally beautiful landscape. Fog is the main source of water for the site, providing a unique environment for endemic invertebrates, reptiles and mammals, which are able to adapt to changing microhabitats and niches.