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For the first time, scientists have been able to determine the age of a star dune, one of the largest dune species. The Lala Lallia was formed in Morocco 13,000 years ago, and today it still moves slowly through the desert. Star dunes such as the Lala Lallia (Berber for 'Highest Sacred Point') can grow up to hundreds of meters high. They are found in Africa, Asia and North America, as well as outside the Earth, such as on Mars. The Lala Lallia is 100 meters high and 700 meters wide and is located in the desert area of Erg Chebbi in the southeast of Morocco. In the UAE, there are hundreds of these types of dunes, mostly found in the Al Quoa Region: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qaeHbLqc6zQyvV3f8 Such a dune is created by winds from different directions colliding with each other. From the ground, such a dune looks like a pyramid (hence the nickname 'pyramid dune'. But from the sky, the dune looks more like a star, because it flares out in several arms. By finding out their age, scientists can learn to understand the workings of those winds and better map the climate of thousands of years ago. Understanding how the dunes form also has a practical use in the construction of infrastructure such as roads or pipelines. The Lala Lallia now appears to be 13,000 years old. That seems very old, but in geological terms, 13,000 years is pretty young. And to the researchers' surprise, the top layer of the dune was much younger, 'barely' a thousand years old. By the way, the sand that makes up the dune is much older: millions of years, in fact. Scientists were able to determine the age using the technique of luminescence dating, in which they calculate when grains of sand were last exposed to daylight. According to the scientists, the dune formed relatively quickly, in 4,000 years. After that, the dune stopped growing for about 8,000 years, only to expand again in the last thousand years. Because dune formation is so strongly dependent on the wind, a dune never stands completely still. According to the researchers, the Lala Lallia shifts fifty centimeters every year. Geoff Duller, a professor involved at the University of Aberystwyth in Wales, called the dunes "extraordinary" and "one of the natural wonders of the world".

Can't thank you enough @Frederic for organizing such an enterprise and @GauravSoni for leading our pack safely in and out of LIWA. Thankfully I have always been able to answer whenever LIWA called - this being my 4th excursion - an annual pilgrimage of sorts.. and loved every bit of it and then some more... Thanks also for the opportunity to make new friends with @Gautam Banka and meet up with old ones @Simon D @Batuhan Kulac and @Imran Asghar. it was fun experiencing respective leads of Simon and Gaurav - different but then similar traits with common denominator being safety. It was an absolute pleasure driving with you gentlemen and the time spent together around the fire under clear star studded skies is simply priceless. Thank you for the company, the opportunity and all the fun.

Definitely not for beginner level you can either do massive sideys on the flanks, or cross over the ridges that branch out.

In waqan there are lots of these

Great insights @Frederic ! Always have been hearing about them but got to know this detailed finally ! In terms of difficulty level - Is it more IM level or super technical with associated risks to do these ? Or super easy and fun !

@Rasna bring your car here, under the guide of very good marshals

Yes please, and with that free ID she has to RSVP for this event. She still needs to fill in the details for your Jeep, as it will tie that info to her profile. Just regular profile info fields, those are mandatory with an asterisk, including Emergency contact info. Most welcome, but rem you said it "PASSIVELY" here, so you don't distract her and be a good boy, lol.

Hi @Gaurav, I'd like my fiance to RSVP. She has always been my co-pilot, it's now her turn to take the wheel 😀 A couple of questions: - Does she need to register on Carnity for this drive? - She would be using my Jeep, you already have all the details about the car on my profile. What other info would be needed on your side? - I'd like to join her on this day, would it be possible for me to passively be there? Thanks!

Yes it is, will send the notification shortly.

Hope you guys like this video

Last week we drove at Faqa'a and started from E14, at the Abu Dhabi Side. This video shows the first inital part of the drive.

In honor of International Women's Day, Carnity would love to commemorate the strength and spirit of women by extending a heartfelt invitation to women of all ages for an exclusive Absolute Newbie beginner-level desert drive experience. Drawing from our extensive experience in empowering newcomers, we understand the importance of providing a supportive environment where safety measures and driving techniques are explained with care and precision. This Absolute Newbie drive has been tailored with your comfort and enjoyment in mind. It's our way of thanking all the women in our lives for their unwavering support in helping us achieve our dreams and goals. From being daughters to mothers, sisters, life partners, and friends, women play multiple roles in a lifetime, and this event is our opportunity to celebrate each one of you. Join us as we introduce you to the exhilarating world of desert driving without any pressure of fast-paced or advanced maneuvers. Leave your worries and stress at home and immerse yourself in a day filled with adventure and joy with us. Join the Carnity Family as we honor your resilience and embrace the thrill of adventure amidst the tranquil beauty of the desert. This event serves as a special tribute to all the incredible women who inspire us on this momentous occasion of International Women's Day. Action Plan Learn to deflate - 30 min Safety briefing - 30 min Introduction to sand driving - 1 hour Relaxing break in the beautiful landscape - 30 min Sand reading, dune crossing maneuvers and self-recovery briefing - 30 min Experience the best of desert driving experience - 1 hour All What do you need for the drive: Any proper 4x4 or AWD with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. Camping chair, cap, sunglasses, snacks and drinks for yourself. Highly recommend driving alone without distraction, but up to 1 passenger is allowed. No paid subscription required - Join as a free member and RSVP the event. No modification needed - well service 4x4 in good condition is needed. No experience needed - we will teach you the basics of sand driving. No deflator or pressure gauge is needed - we will provide that. No Radio needed - we will provide that. No compressor needed - we will end the drive at the fuel station. Bonus All joiners will get a 1-month free subscription to Carnity Off-road Club. Drive Details Level: Absolute Newbie (Ladies only) When: 16 March 2024, Saturday Meeting time: 1:00 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: - https://maps.app.goo.gl/4SHjXMF9BYnykHp48 Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 or AWD with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), chair, smiles, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE: Limited to 12 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 1 PM. If the RSVP is full add yourself to the waitlist. Latecomers will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Members without RSVP will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS. Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others. First time with Carnity Off-road Club: Please share your vehicle details - Make, Model, Color, and Year. Do you have any prior off-road experience? If yes, pls share details. Confirm your vehicle has front and rear tow hooks/eyelets. MUST WATCH: NEWBIE VIDEO BRIEFING HOW TO JOIN: Register for Carnity Free Membership: https://carnity.com/register Then RSVP on the below calendar event. If the drive is full, add yourself to the waitlist, please.

Good morning @Ale Vallecchi is the drive confirmed ? I cannot see it in the calendar Thank you

Congrats @Haneef Thayyil

DRIVE REPORT CONVOY 1 With the rising sun warming us up after a chilly night, we met up at the Khanoor entry point with two convoys eager to explore this "holy grail of terrains" for off-roaders: The Mystical Liwa ! After the briefing, where we emphasized this kind of terrain demands a humble approach and mental resilience, we set off and started making our way Eastwards. We had drafted a plan with waypoints to keep as a reference to fall back on, but the idea was to follow where the dunes were leading us, as in Liwa this is usually the only way through. After a couple of hours, i handed over the lead to @DP1011, as i wanted him to feel the joy of leading in this terrain, which he did MARVELOUSLY. Throughout the day, we had a handful of refusals, zero stucks, and no rope or recovery. In almost 7hrs of driving in this challenging terrain, where low gear was sometimes the only way up or out. This says a LOT about the convoy, that was so in tune and capable, and of course the lead, who carefully chose his lines to keep the group safe from harm. Our tactic of letting the lead climb first to the platform of the dunes, and then giving the second lead the confirmation to follow, worked like a charm, and this allowed to avoid massive bowls and pitfalls. @Rafey Hashmi you had your doubts about yourself and what the Jimny could manage in LIWA. Let it be put to rest for once and for always that it's always about the driver. The way you carefully chose your lines and built your momentum on bigger climbs was a sight to behold, and the skills that your little Jimny forced you to learn has turned you in a super capable off-roader ! @Alphin Aloor we all know what a heavy boat a stock Patrol Y61 is. Me too But look at how bloody capable they are. I slept comfortably in the Patrol the entire weekend, and the car is a blessing for this long journey. If driven the right way the Patrol is unstoppable and unstuckable. You proved it by not breaking a single sweat all weekend ! @Pascal you've done plenty of drives with us, and your skills are way up there, together with your calm approach and magnificent 4Runner. Always a pleasure to have you and your wife on any of our adventures ! @Richard Franks who is an Ex-Jeeper who moved to the Toyota world of no worries, proves once again how capable a stock FJ is, and how you navigated it seamlessly through this challenging terrain ! @AlexM and @Amr A both equipped with superb driving skills and green mean Jeeps, i love having you guys on our drives, as you both have a can-do attitude and back it up with so many drive skills. @M.Seidamand of course his dear Abdallah, was an absolute delight to have you watching our backs and supporting us at each step. We reached the camp around 4.45PM and took our time to setup. I was in touch with @GauravSoniand heard he ran into some technical troubles, but soon after we saw 6 knights in shining armor racing towards us, full of adrenaline and joy, and it looked they had a very different type of day but nevertheless turned it into a blast and A-Team Work ! Kudos to you guys for not giving up and i am looking forward to your drive report to tell us your stories ! The next morning, we cleaned up the camp, left by 9.15, and within 40mins we were on top of Moreeb, enjoying the scenery and taking photos that will help us remember this unforgettable weekend ! Most importantly we have to count our blessings for exiting two convoys, free of incidents. And that is what matters most. I am sure everyone drove home with a smile I know i did ! Thanks @GauravSoniand @Simon D for taking the second convoy and offering everyone a chance to experience this unforgettable drive. I will never forget the stories you guys shared about how the Pajero roared back to life after its surgery 😆 Below the actual track we did (black line was our draft, red is the actual track): Day one we covered around 76km in approx 8hrs total. Day two we only needed to cover 10kms in 40mins to reach Moreeb.

A slightly chilly morning and a perfect newbie drive by @Kailas !! - we managed to do the skydive loop as a first part and then cross the E66 , navigating some bushy areas and ending at Qudra, covering close to 53Km in 3hrs, 45 min , impressive for a newbie drive, with enough and more of newbie challenges thrown in . Am sure that all drivers got a taste of their cars doing different angles on dunes, straight crossings, some drops, approaching a downward slope etc. @Pramod B - the absolute newbie among us on his first desert drive had an issue with his flag before we even entered the dunes which was promptly sorted out with some ingenious quick thinking by our @Davie Chase incarnating as the offroad handyman .. Pramod has promised to get it sorted before his next drive! Pramod , you went through some weird refusal/stuck situations which were sorted out by yourself by carefully listening to instructions provided over radio. Appreciate your presence of mind and adherence to instructions which is critical to solving such situations. Hope you understood what landed you in those situations and that you have taken home some pointers to implement on your next drive. See you soon , taming that powerful Pajero!! @khlief in his grand cherokee drove without issues , except for a crest stuck. As we discussed, be a little gentle on gas, as i could see your wheels spinning and kicking up sand a lot of times. It comes with practice, don't worry too much on that, keep driving and get to know your car better. Also, i appreciate that you always sought clarifications on the radio about whom to follow when the convoy order was temporarily shuffled/rerouted due to recoveries, rather than assuming something on your own. (Ps - Remember to get a spare radio or battery 🙂) @rroker Rizwan and @EbrahimZAF driving behind me had no issues whatsoever, hope you guys enjoyed the drive and see you on our next adventure. One pointer which i can offer based on what i saw is to straighten your wheels when coming down a slope. Always remember - "wheels pointing down". "Do not slide into the slope, drive into it". @TIMMY driving your expedition through the desert even on a newbie drive is no mean feat . I could sense your increased confidence after the drive yesterday. Keep driving and get to know your car better. @Deepak Eswar - thanks for helping out with support functions @Frederic118 @Sameer D. @Abdul Hannan @Tatsiana Chase - hope you all had a wonderful drive at the tail end, see you soon.

Updated the post with the latest and last video (3rd one) from that particular drive here. Hope you enjoy watching as much as I did making them. Thank you @Jona, @Tareq Al Turq, @Amir Amiri, @Joseph Raju, @Cha, @Imteeaz, @Pacific and @Sunil Mathew for your participation in the drive. I hope you enjoyed the drive. I wish I had recorded the last bit dubbed "Survive the Chaos" on top of the Badayer Dune.