White Sands National Park, Gypsum dunes national park in New Mexico, US
White Sands National Park is a protected area covering wide gypsum deposits in New Mexico, roughly midway between El Paso and Albuquerque. The dunes spread across a broad basin and form ridges, hollows, and gentle waves of fine white sand.
The Tularosa Lake dried up thousands of years ago and left behind a mineral-rich surface that wind shaped into dunes. The site was designated a national monument in 1933 and received national park status in 2019.
The white dunes have shaped the imagination of indigenous communities for centuries and remain part of their oral traditions. Visitors often notice how the bright terrain shifts under changing daylight and creates different moods throughout the day.
Water is necessary when exploring the dunes, as temperatures climb high during summer months and shade is absent. Trails are not always clearly marked, so it helps to note visible landmarks along the way.
Several animal species have developed pale body colors over generations to blend into the white terrain. This adaptation is especially visible in small rodents and some lizard species, which appear almost entirely light in tone.
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