Sastrugi

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The word sastrugi comes from a Russian word zastrugi (заструги) and is a German transliteration adopted into many other languages. The word describes sharp, irregular and wavy patterns created in the snow surface by strong winds. Under the action of a steady strong wind, ice particles accumulate and drift similar to how sand grains do in the desert forming dunes. When the wind slackens, the ice crystals consolidate. Subsequent winds erode the resulting formations, sculpting them into sastrugi.