White Sands National Monument

The White Sands National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located about 25km (15 miles) southwest of Alamogordo in the state of New Mexico. The area is in the mountain-ringed Tularosa Basin valley area and comprises the southern part of a 710km² (275-square mile) field of white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals.

Related Topics:
U.S. National Monument - Alamogordo - State - New Mexico - Sand dune - Gypsum

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Gypsum is rarely found in the form of sand because it is water soluble.

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Normally, rain would dissolve the gypsum and carry it to the sea.

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Since the Tularosa Basin has no outlet to the sea, rain that dissolves

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gypsum from the surrounding San Andres and

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Sacramento Mountains is trapped within the basin and either sinks

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into the ground or forms shallow pools that subsequently dry out and

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leave gypsum in a crystalline form called selenite on the surface.

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During the last ice age a lake called Lake Otero covered much of

Related Topics:
Ice age - Lake Otero

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the basin.

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When it dried out it left a large flat area of selenite crystals which

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is now the Alkali Flat.

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Lake Lucero, at the south-west corner of the park, is a dry lake bed

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at one of the lowest points of the basin that occasionally fills with

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water.

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The ground in the Alkali Flat and along Lake Lucero's shore is covered

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with selenite crystals which reach lengths of up to three feet.

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Weather erosion eventually breaks the crystals into sand-size grains

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that are carried away by the prevailing winds from the south-west,

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forming white dunes.

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The dunes constantly change shape and slowly move downwind, covering

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the plants in their path.

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Some species of plants, however, can grow rapidly enough to avoid being

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buried by the dunes.

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From the visitor center at the entrance of the park, the Dunes Drive

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leads 8 miles (12 km) into the dunes.

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Four marked trails allow to explore the dunes by foot.

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During the summer, there are also Ranger-guided orientation and nature

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walks. In areas accessible by car kids frequently use the dunes for sledding downhill.

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The park lies completely within the White Sands Missile Range, and

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both the park and the U.S. 70 between the park and

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Las Cruces, New Mexico may be closed for safety reasons while tests

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are conducted on the missile range.

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On average, this happens about twice a week, for a duration of one to

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two hours.

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