White Sands
White Sands National Park in New Mexico is famous for vast fields of nearly pure gypsum sand dunes. Explore dune walks, sledding, and wildlife viewing amid stark, sunlit landscapes.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Western United States |
| Subregion | Southwestern United States |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Harrison County |
| District | White Sands Basin |
| City | Alamogordo |
| Timezone | AmericaDenver |
| Latitude | 32.783 |
| Longitude | -106.443 |
| Maps |
12:59 PM LOCAL TIMEWhite Sands National Park in southern New Mexico is a surreal landscape of glistening white gypsum sand dunes. The dunes, which cover approximately 712 square kilometers, are the largest of their kind on earth and visualize an otherworldly, windswept expanse that shifts constantly with weather and tide migrations. Visitors come to dune walk, sled on the soft sands, and learn about the fragile desert ecosystem that sustains adapted plants and animals such as kangaroo rats and horned lizards. Trails like the Dune Life Nature Trail and Backcountry Road offer varying degrees of access and solitude while facilities are concentrated near the park entrance for safety and comfort. Be prepared for sun exposure, carry plenty of water, and respect overlays of climate and environmental guidance to help preserve the park’s delicate gypsum crust and native wildlife.
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