Eureka Valley (Inyo County)

Eureka Valley is located in Inyo County, in eastern California in the southwestern United States.

Its shape alters the wind in such a way as to collect sand near its southern end, leading to the unique Eureka Dunes.

Just to the east of the dunes, the Last Chance Range climbs over 3,500 feet (1,100 m) as near-vertical cliffs, displaying colorful rock strata.

The Eureka Dunes themselves are located in the southeasternmost tip of the valley and trend north–south, parallel to Last Chance Range.

The sand source is unknown, although some scientists believed that it originated from an ancient lake at the northern end of the valley.

[5] The unique booming characteristic of the Eureka Dunes is caused by the relative motion of moving sand grains.

The sound has been compared to moans, hums, drums, and, in the case of Eureka, a distant propeller plane.