This was probably one of lil Stephen Riley's favorite days on the trip! Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield.
FUN FACTS
- The White Sands National Monument is made up entirely of gypsum crystals that form dunes that stretch over 275 square miles.
- The site of the first atomic bomb detonation is located on the northern boundary of the National Park
- Gypsum, what makes up the dunes is actually a clear substance; the dunes appear white like snow because the gypsum grains are constantly banging into each other. The scratches then reflect the sun’s rays making them look white.
- Gypsum doesn’t absorb heat from the sun, so even on the hottest day of the year; the dunes are cool and comfortable to walk on.
As always, thanks so much for stopping by and being part of our lives. If you're camping / visiting White Sands we highly recommend staying at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park nearby.