Erra Matti Dibbalu Added to UNESCO Tentative List

Erra Matti Dibbalu, or Red Sand Hills near Visakhapatnam, is a 12,000-year-old geo-heritage site known for its unique red sand formations and scientific value.

Context: Erra Matti Dibbalu was added to the tentative list of UNESCO’s Natural Heritage Sites.

Erra Matti Dibbalu

Erra Matti Dibbalu are red sand dunes located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Spread along the Bay of Bengal coastline.
Formed during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), ~18,500–20,000 years ago.
Red colour → due to ferrous minerals in the sand, which oxidised (rusted) over time.
Already been declared as one of India’s 34 National Geo-Heritage Sites.

Erra Matti Dibbalu, or the Red Sand Hills, is an unusual natural geological structure found near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It is estimated to be more than 12,000 years old and developed as a result of the combined forces of marine and wind activities during the late Pleistocene period. Declared a geo-heritage site by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Erra Matti Dibbalu assumes importance in the study of climate change, coastal processes, and sea-level fluctuations in the past.

The red sand red rock formations covering an area of almost 20 square kilometres make it not only a place of scientific significance but also one with high tourist appeal due to the novelty of the landscape and its natural beauty.