Engulfing nearly 275 square miles of Chihuahuan Desert, White Sands National Monument is a sight to behold. The white "sand" is actually gypsum, and it is the largest gypsum dunefield in the world. It is fairly easy to get lost in the heart of the dunes, and trails are marked with white and orange poles; often, however, the poles get buried due to the shifting dunes. There is no shade along the major trails, and rangers recommend carrying at least one gallon of water per person per day in order to stay hydrated. Although the dunes seem devoid of life, animals and plants survive in the gypsum. The interdunal areas, which retain moisture after rains, thrive with plantlife. And many animals have adapted to the harsh conditions, including a rare albino lizard that can somtimes be seen scampering across the gypsum dunes.
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| Gypsum dunes at White Sands National Monument |
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| Sand Verbena blooms in April and May |
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| Wind rakes the dune fields |
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| Trail markers on the Alkali Flat Trail |
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| Contrasting colors on the dunes |
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| Black-and-white on white |
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| Very little plant life in the heart of the dunes |
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| Some vegetaion between dunes |
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| A 4-foot marker nearly buried |
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| Blooming Soaptree Yuccas in an interdunal area |
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| White Sands with the Sacramento Mountains in the background |
1 comment:
I never get tired of looking at your pics - they are different every time. The sand really does look like snow.
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