What is Musical Sand (Singing Sand) ?
"Musical Sand," a mysterious sand that "sings" with a squeaking sound like a small bird when you walk on it. What is its true nature? In fact, there are two main types of sound-producing sand: the gentle sounds heard on the beautiful beaches of Japan, and the thunderous roars that echo across the vast deserts of distant lands.
The Beach Songstress: "Kotohiki-hama"
The musical sand found on Japan's coasts is often named after the "Koto," a traditional Japanese harp,
like the famous "Kotohiki-hama" in Kyoto, due to its lovely tones. This sand is primarily composed of grains of a mineral called quartz. When these grains rub against each other, they produce a delicate sound, almost as if a small bird is chirping.
The Desert Beast: "Booming Sand"
| Meanwhile, in the deserts of other countries, there exists a spectacular phenomenon known as "booming sand." Entire giant dunes can emit a deep humming sound, a "boooom" that can sometimes be heard from as far as 20 kilometers away. The famous Charles Darwin even wrote about this strange phenomenon in his "The Voyage of the Beagle." |
This picture shows a booming mountain of sand in the Nevada desert in USA. |
Chinise booming mountain
Mingsha Mountain in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China |
In China, the "Dunhuang" an ancient text over a thousand years old, describes it like this: "In the height of summer, it sings by itself. When men and horses tread upon it, the sound shakes the land for dozens of miles... its voice roars like thunder." Even today, the mountain described is called "Mingsha Shan" (Singing Sand Mountain) and is beloved by many. |
A Fading Voice
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As mysterious as musical sand is, it is now quietly disappearing due to global environmental changes.
There are two main reasons for this:
On this website, we introduce precious records and many facts about this musical sand. Please take your time and explore. |