Sigatoka Sand Dunes

The Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park is located at the mouth of the Sigatoka River on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. They are located approximately 3km West of the town of Sigatoka.

They are the product of erosion in the coastal hinterland and coastal dune forming processes. The extensive dune system covers an area of 650 hectares and comprises a series of parabolic sand dunes of various ages and activities. The dunes range from around 20-60m tall.

The dunes have been forming over millions of years and archaeological excavations here have uncovered pottery more than 2600 years old, as well as one of the largest burial sites in the Pacific. Evidence of the past is clearly visible throughout the dune system as pottery scatters, stone tools, human remains and other archaeological relics continue to be uncovered by natural processes.

In 1999 it was proposed as a World Heritage Site but has not been accepted so far.

* [http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1375/ UNESCO World Heritage Centre - tentative list]
* [http://www.rsnz.org/publish/nzjb/1981/36.pdf New Zealand Journal of Botany - Sigatoka Sand Dunes 1981]
* [http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/fiji/sights/117038?list=true# Lonely Planet - Fiji]