White Sands National Monument is a United States National Monument that is located in the southeastern region of the state of New Mexico. The monument contains the world's largest gypsum sand dune field -- over 200 square miles of fine white sand, formed by the prevailing winds into large ridge-like dunes.

History

White Sands became a national monument on January 18, 1933 by order of President Herbert Hoover. Efforts to preserve the area's brilliant gypsum dunes had begun in the late 1800's, but it was the enthusiasm of local booster Tom Charles that finally led to the park's creation. In his words "gypsum may be divided into two classes - Commercial and Inspirational. The former everybody has, but as for recreational gypsum, we have it all. No place else in the world do you find these alabaster dunes with the beauty and splendor of the Great White Sands". The park's creation coincided with the Great Depression, which was in some ways fortuitous due to the Roosevelt administration's focus on public works. WPA funds were used to improve many park areas and White Sands benefited by achieving a full measure of development within just a few years of opening. In its first year the park attracted 12,000 people, and today as many as 600,000 people visit the park annually.

Landscape

The obvious natural feature of this monument is the pure gypsum dunes, but perhaps less obvious are the sources of the dunes, Lake Lucero and Alkali Flat. These two areas are the result of the gradual drying of an extensive Pleistocene lake that was rich in the mineral gypsum, with the dunes being the result of weathering and wind transport of these exposed surfaces. The translucent golden-yellow crystals of selenite (gypsum) grow in saturated mud beneath the lake's remains. When exposed on the surface, these crystals are subject to weathering and erosion and may eventually become gypsum powder and sand grains, which can be carried by winds as dust or sand storms to become the white sands of White Sands National Monument.

Flora and fauna

Most of the animals of White Sands have developed nocturnal habits to escape predators and the desert heat. In addition, due to the white sands some animals have evolved lighter coloration; there are forms of white reptiles, mammals, and invertebrates that blend with their white background (you probably won't see them unless they move). However, of the 44 species of mammals, 26 species of reptiles, 6 species of amphibians and nearly 100 families of insects recorded on the monument, the vast majority have normal coloration. Lizards can be readily observed in the interdunal areas where vegetation can be found for shade and protection. The park's mammals are primarily nocturnal, so are not as easily observed. The light-colored amphibian, the spade foot toad, only ventures from underground following thunderstorms when water is available for breeding and egg-laying in the pools of rainwater, where tadpoles quickly develop into adults and burrow into the moist sand, where they await the next season's storms.

Climate

The Tularosa Basin, a high desert area, averaging 4,000 feet (1200+ meters) in elevation, is subject to harsh, and sometimes rapidly changing climatic conditions. Summers are hot, with high temperatures averaging 95°F. (35°C.) in July and August. Winters are relatively mild, but night time temperatures often go below freezing (0°C.) and cold spells can send the mercury below zero (0°F / -17°C). The lowest recorded temperature is -25°F (-32°C). Snowfall is infrequent, but heavy snows have occurred on occasion. Precipitation averages about 8 inches (20cm.) per year, with most falling during summer thunderstorms, often accompanied by lightning and hail. Wind is the dominant climatic factor, especially from February through May. The prevailing southwesterly winds blow unimpeded across the desert and at times reach gale force. Wind storms can last for days in the spring. This is the time of the greatest dune movement, when living conditions for dune animal and plant communities become extremely harsh.

Get in

By car
A car is pretty much the only way to reach the monument; no public transportation services White Sands. The visitor center is located on U.S. Highway 70/82, 15 miles (24.15km) southwest of Alamogordo and 52 miles east of Las Cruces. The monument is open daily, except Christmas Day. Summer hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day): Visitor Center 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Dunes Drive 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Winter hours: Visitor Center 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Dunes Drive 7:00 AM to sunset. Note that due to missile testing on the adjacent White Sands Missile Range, it is occasionally necessary, for visitor safety, to close the Dunes Drive for periods of up to two hours. U.S. Highway 70/82 between Alamogordo and Las Cruces is also closed during times of missile testing. Visitors on a tight schedule are encouraged to call the day prior to arrival for information on closures.

Get around

By car
An eight-mile scenic drive leads from the Visitor Center into the heart of the dunes. Wayside exhibits at pullouts along the drive provide information about the natural history of the park. Driving on the dunes is not allowed.

By bike
The dunes drive is an easy ride for individuals on bike. During full moons the park service offers reservation-only full moon bike rides, during which the drive is opened after-hours to bicycles. A special use fee of $5 is charged. Reservations can be made by calling (505) 679-2599 ext 111.

Shopping

The gift shop at the visitor center offers books, maps, posters, videotapes and other souvenir items for purchase. Gas and supplies must be purchased outside of the park.

Get out

 • White Sands Missile Range, known locally as WSMR (and often pronounced "whiz-murr"), is nearby, with an interesting museum that covers some of the area's history as well as examples of some of the rockets and missiles that have been launched there. Generally open 10-3 or 8-4, but call (505-678-8824) to verify hours; as it is on the territory of the Air Force base, closures or restrictions due to security concerns are possible.
 • When you call the WSMR museum, you might ask about the next tour of Trinity Site, the remote area at the north of the range where the first atomic bomb was tested. There are occasional public tours, usually in fall, that are a sobering experience (although not a hazardous one -- radiation levels at the site are generally back down to natural background). Probably not available to non-US citizens, but inquire.