Moscow's 'Great Dune' Snow Mound, an Internet Meme, Returns After Storm

On Miusskaya Square in Moscow«s Tverskoy District, the social media legend known as the »Great Dune« has »risen from the dead« after a heavy snowfall — the nickname locals have given to the snow mounds that appear here after street cleaning in the city center.

Following abnormal holiday snowfalls, this king of snowdrifts appeared here for the first time since 2021. Locals have long loved this unique attraction, but this year the Miusskaya Dune has truly conquered the internet.

The city had no heavy precipitation for about a week, and the dune was gradually carted off to snow-melting facilities. Social media even managed to say goodbye to the huge snowdrift until next winter. But today, the Miusskaya Dune is back!

«Why do Muscovites love the Dune so much? We think it»s because of its suddenness and inappropriateness,« write the authors of the Telegram channel »Society of Friends of the Famous Miusskaya Snow Dune,« who closely monitor the life of the snowdrift. »It appears from around the corner, catches us by surprise as we rush about on serious business, and seems to say: leave your adulthood and seriousness behind and come slide down the hill!«

According to an MSK1.RU correspondent, on the evening of January 27, utility workers continued to haul snow from the surrounding area to Miusskaya Square. MSK1.RU estimates the new snowdrift is 200 meters (656 feet) long and about five meters (16 feet) high. Judging by weather forecasts, the dune will become even bigger tomorrow.

Earlier, due to a powerful snowfall, Sheremetyevo Airport was closed to arriving flights: the restrictions were in effect until 12 p.m.

We are collecting all the current information about the consequences of the snowfall in Moscow and the region in our online report.