Erg Chebbi is a Sahara Desert dune field in Morocco.
The dunes lie in southeastern Morocco near the village of Merzouga, close to the Algerian border. Erg is a geographic term for a broad area of wind-blown sand, and Erg Chebbi is one of Morocco’s best-known examples. Its tall orange-gold dunes are a major destination for desert excursions.
Erg Chebbi is often confused with the entire Moroccan Sahara. It is only one dune system within a much larger desert region. Morocco also contains other notable Saharan landscapes, including the dunes of Erg Chigaga farther west.
The area’s scenery reflects the interaction of wind, sediment, and very low rainfall. Although the dunes appear barren, desert-adapted plants and animals survive in the wider region, and nearby settlements rely heavily on tourism and oasis agriculture.