It is difficult to imagine that in the middle of the steppe there were dunes of white sand or deep lakes with turquoise water. Where can they get here? Nevertheless, both are located not far from Volnogorsk, Dnepropetrovsk region.
This desert is not a natural phenomenon, but just a by-product of human activity. We have before us the titanium-zirconium sands of the Malyshevskoye deposit, which includes: zircon, rutile, ilmenite, leucoxene, disthene, sillimanite, staurolite, tourmaline and quartz, which are of high industrial importance. Anatase, brookite, baddeleyite, corundum, monazite, spinel and other minerals are also present in small amounts.
Due to the occurrence of ore-bearing titanium-zirconium and aluminosilicate sands, minerals can be mined in an open way using high-performance equipment. Ore sands are mined using rotary and bucket excavators. Overburden is piled up into the goaf. The mined sands are placed on the site in the form of a cone, after which they are washed out with a jet monitor and transported through the system of main pipelines to the processing plant in the form of slurry.
The White Desert is just a part of this huge complex. Nevertheless, it deserves attention: dazzling white sand and deep lakes with clear water - how to get past such beauty? So we decided not to go through, but to examine it closely.
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It turned out to be very difficult to walk on the sand. From a distance, the first dune seemed small, but as we approached, we realized that it was quite impressive in size. In addition, a strong wind interfered with going, which lifts fine sand into the air. A kind of sandstorm, after which sand is literally everywhere: in socks, pants, shorts, on the teeth and in the eyes. Glasses would not hurt, but, as always, you remember such things later.
After some time, we reached a small channel between two huge dunes. My companion Nikolai decided to try the water and explore the reservoir. The depth turned out to be about six meters, visibility was poor - most likely due to the strong wind, which covered the sand from the shore.
Returning to the starting point, we went around the bay and went to the second dune. It was slightly smaller than the first, but it opened up a stunning industrial landscape. There is also a pipe laid through which water with washed sand is discharged.
The White Desert is a beautiful place where you can walk and be in absolute silence. And even the fact that these are artificial dunes and blue lakes does not prevent you from experiencing incredible emotions.
Author: Roman Nedilko
