White Sands National Park, Gypsum dunes national park in New Mexico, US
Description
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.
History
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.
Culture
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.
Practical
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.
Did you know?
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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The western United States protects some of North America's most diverse natural landscapes. From the layered canyons of Canyonlands in Utah to the white gypsum dunes of White Sands in New Mexico, this region spans multiple climate zones and geological formations. Visitors find national parks, Pueblo...
The southwestern United States encompasses desert landscapes, sandstone formations and archaeological sites from several pre-Columbian cultures. The region spans Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, featuring geological structures shaped over millions of years by wind and water erosion. National...
New Mexico combines geological formations with historical sites spanning multiple periods. The region includes cave systems such as Carlsbad Caverns, extensive gypsum fields at White Sands, volcanic landscapes at El Malpais National Monument, and unusual rock formations in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin...
Holloman High Speed Test Track
11.9 km
White Sands National Park Historic District
0 m
White Sands Visitor Center
70 mWhite Sands Comfort Station
91 mMcDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle
11.2 kmNorth American F-86E Sabre
8.6 kmPlaya
4.2 kmInterdune
6.5 kmLake Holloman - Bird Watch Post
5.5 kmBackcountry Camping
10.1 kmWhite Sands
10 kmInterdune
6.5 kmInterdune
6.5 kmPlaya
4.2 kmInterdune Boardwalk
6.5 kmLockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
11.2 kmLockheed YF-117A Nighthawk
11.2 kmNorthrop AT-38B Talon
11.2 kmGeneral Atomics MQ-1L Predator
11.2 kmConvair QF-106A Delta Dart
11.2 kmRepublic F-105D Thunderchief
11.2 kmPanavia Tornado IDS
11.2 kmLockheed F-104C Starfighter
11.2 kmNorth American F-100D Super Sabre
11.2 kmFisher Body F-84F Thunderstreak
11.2 kmLockheed TO-1
11.2 kmMcDonnell F-4C Phantom II
11.2 kmGeneral Atomics YMQ-9 Reaper
11.2 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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