Advertisement
5. The Fairy Circles Mystery
Advertisement
Across the Namib Desert, the enigmatic Fairy Circles produce a hypnotic polka-dot pattern. Surrounded by thick grass rings, these exactly circular bare spots span hundreds of kilometres and have diameters ranging from two to fifteen meters. Long-running arguments among scientists on their cause range from termite activity to plant competition for water resources. Over decades, the circles seem to be self-organising and retain their form and scale. Recent studies point to a mix of elements, including soil chemistry, termite behaviour, and plant competition, maybe helping to explain their emergence. Their regularity of pattern and mathematical accuracy of their spacing make them among the most fascinating aspects of the desert.
