White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico.
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October 02, 2011
October 02, 2011
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White Sands National, Monument Dunes. New Mexico.
Courtesy: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 
White Sands National, Monument From Sunspot, New Mexico. 
White Sands National, Monument Dunes. New Mexico. 
White Sands National, Monument Dunes. New Mexico.
Google Map To White Sands National, Monument. Visitor Center. New Mexico.
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Map To White Sands National, Monument. Visitor Center & Scenic Dunes Drive. New Mexico.
White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico.
Visitor Center & Scenic Dunes Drive Map. Courtesy: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Click Here To See A Video Panaramic View Of
The White Sands National Monument Dunes. New Mexico.. 16.8 MB.
White Sands National, Monument:
We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the images and information on this page. We share information with Wikipedia.
The White Sands National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located about 15 miles southwest of Alamogordo in the western county of Otero, and the northeastern county of Dona Ana in the state of New Mexico, at an elevation of about 4,235 feet.
The White Sands National Monument is in the mountain-ringed Tularosa Basin valley area and comprises the southern part of a 275 mi� field of white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals.
The Headquarters building (also called the Visitor Center Complex) was constructed of adobe bricks as a Works Progress Administration project starting in 1936 and completed in 1938.
From the Visitor Center at the entrance of the park, the Dunes Drive leads 8 miles into the sand dunes.
There are four marked trails which allow one to explore the sand dunes by foot. During the summer, there are also Ranger-guided orientation and nature walks.
The mineral composition of the sand dunes make them rather unique.
Since the White Sands National Monument is in the mountain-ringed Tularosa Basin valley area a unique geologic situation occurs. The Tularosa Basin is enclosed, meaning that it has no outlet to the sea and that rain that dissolves gypsum from the surrounding San Andres and Sacramento Mountains is trapped within the basin. Therefore, the water either sinks into the ground or forms into shallow pools which subsequently dry out and leave the gypsum behind, in a crystalline form, called selenite, upon the surface. This area is called the Alkali Flat
Another lake has been formed, called Lake Lucero, at the southwest corner of the park. It is a dry lake bed, located at one of the lowest points of the basin, which occasionally fills with water.
The ground in the Alkali Flat and along Lake Lucero's shore is covered with selenite crystals which can reach lengths of up to three feet.
Weathering and erosion eventually break up the large crystals of selenite into sand-size grains that are carried away by the prevailing winds from the southwest, forming large white dunes. The dunes constantly change shape and slowly move downwind.
Since gypsum is water-soluble, the sand that makes up the dunes may dissolve and then cement together again, after a rain, creating a layer of sand that is solid and could increase the wind resistance of the dunes.
This wind resistance does not prevent the dunes from quickly covering the plants in their path. Some species of plants, however, can grow rapidly enough to avoid being buried by the dunes.
Various forms of dunes are found within the limits of White Sands. Dome dunes are found along the southwest margins of the field, transverse and barchan in the core of the field, and parabolic dunes occur in high numbers along the northern, southern, and northeastern margins.
Fortunately for hikers of the dunes, unlike dunes made of quartz-based sand crystals, the gypsum does not readily convert the sun's energy into heat and thus can be walked upon safely with bare feet, even in the hottest summer months.
In areas accessible by car, children frequently use the dunes for downhill sledding.
Because the park lies completely within the White Sands Missile Range, both the park and U.S. Route 70 between Las Cruces, New Mexico and Alamogordo are subject to closure for safety reasons when tests are conducted on the missile range. On average, tests occur about twice a week, for a duration of one to two hours.
Because of these closures, we suggest calling the Visitor Center before touring.
Also, located on the northernmost boundaries of White Sands Missile Range, the Trinity Site can be found, where the first atom bomb was detonated. It can not be reached from the Visitor Center.
The visitor center is located on U.S. Highway 70, 15 miles southwest of Alamogordo and 52 miles east of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Travelers from Carlsbad Caverns to southern Arizona can follow U.S. 82 through the scenic Sacramento Mountains to reach White Sands National Monument.
The visitor center is open year-round. Entrance fees are collected at the entrance station on the Dunes Drive..
Hours change according to the times of the year.
We suggest checking for more information, that is constantly updated, at the White Sands National Monument link, at the bottom of this page.
For a White Sands National Monument Map, in Acrobat pdf format click "White Sands National Monument Map".
How To Get There:
Turn off Highway 70 between markers 169 & 170. There are signs on the highway.
If you are planning to visit White Sands National Monument. And if you are coming from outside of New Mexico, you could fly into nearest major airport to San Antonio, New Mexico; which is Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF / KSAF). This airport is in Santa Fe, New Mexico and is about 47 miles from the center of San Antonio, NM, and then rent a car.
You also could fly into the Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport (ALM / KALM). This airport is about 4 miles from the center of Alamogordo, NM..
There are many hotels and motels in New Mexico and Colorado, and if you need a place to stay; Priceline.com can arrange that for you.
We have personally, booked flights, hotels, and vacations; through Priceline.com and we can highly recommend them. Their website is also easy to use!
We have some links to Priceline.com on this page since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car.
We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active.
Whenever you make a purchase from a link on our page we get credit for that transaction. Again, Thanks!
White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico.
Courtesy: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico.
Courtesy: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico.
White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico.
White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico.
White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico.
White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico.
White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico.
Close Up Of Crystals Of Selenite Sand.
White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico. Close Up Of Crystals Of Selenite Sand.
White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico.
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For Books Or Videos About The White Sands National Monument, No Obligation!
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| White Sands National, Monument Dunes. New Mexico. Courtesy: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. |
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| White Sands National, Monument From Sunspot, New Mexico. |
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| White Sands National, Monument Dunes. New Mexico. |
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| White Sands National, Monument Dunes. New Mexico. |
Google Map To White Sands National, Monument. Visitor Center. New Mexico.
View Larger Map
Map To White Sands National, Monument. Visitor Center & Scenic Dunes Drive. New Mexico.
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| White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico. Visitor Center & Scenic Dunes Drive Map. Courtesy: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. |
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The White Sands National Monument Dunes. New Mexico.. 16.8 MB.
White Sands National, Monument:
We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the images and information on this page. We share information with Wikipedia.
The White Sands National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located about 15 miles southwest of Alamogordo in the western county of Otero, and the northeastern county of Dona Ana in the state of New Mexico, at an elevation of about 4,235 feet. The White Sands National Monument is in the mountain-ringed Tularosa Basin valley area and comprises the southern part of a 275 mi� field of white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals. The Headquarters building (also called the Visitor Center Complex) was constructed of adobe bricks as a Works Progress Administration project starting in 1936 and completed in 1938. From the Visitor Center at the entrance of the park, the Dunes Drive leads 8 miles into the sand dunes. There are four marked trails which allow one to explore the sand dunes by foot. During the summer, there are also Ranger-guided orientation and nature walks. The mineral composition of the sand dunes make them rather unique. Since the White Sands National Monument is in the mountain-ringed Tularosa Basin valley area a unique geologic situation occurs. The Tularosa Basin is enclosed, meaning that it has no outlet to the sea and that rain that dissolves gypsum from the surrounding San Andres and Sacramento Mountains is trapped within the basin. Therefore, the water either sinks into the ground or forms into shallow pools which subsequently dry out and leave the gypsum behind, in a crystalline form, called selenite, upon the surface. This area is called the Alkali Flat Another lake has been formed, called Lake Lucero, at the southwest corner of the park. It is a dry lake bed, located at one of the lowest points of the basin, which occasionally fills with water. The ground in the Alkali Flat and along Lake Lucero's shore is covered with selenite crystals which can reach lengths of up to three feet. Weathering and erosion eventually break up the large crystals of selenite into sand-size grains that are carried away by the prevailing winds from the southwest, forming large white dunes. The dunes constantly change shape and slowly move downwind. Since gypsum is water-soluble, the sand that makes up the dunes may dissolve and then cement together again, after a rain, creating a layer of sand that is solid and could increase the wind resistance of the dunes. This wind resistance does not prevent the dunes from quickly covering the plants in their path. Some species of plants, however, can grow rapidly enough to avoid being buried by the dunes. Various forms of dunes are found within the limits of White Sands. Dome dunes are found along the southwest margins of the field, transverse and barchan in the core of the field, and parabolic dunes occur in high numbers along the northern, southern, and northeastern margins. Fortunately for hikers of the dunes, unlike dunes made of quartz-based sand crystals, the gypsum does not readily convert the sun's energy into heat and thus can be walked upon safely with bare feet, even in the hottest summer months. In areas accessible by car, children frequently use the dunes for downhill sledding. Because the park lies completely within the White Sands Missile Range, both the park and U.S. Route 70 between Las Cruces, New Mexico and Alamogordo are subject to closure for safety reasons when tests are conducted on the missile range. On average, tests occur about twice a week, for a duration of one to two hours. Because of these closures, we suggest calling the Visitor Center before touring. Also, located on the northernmost boundaries of White Sands Missile Range, the Trinity Site can be found, where the first atom bomb was detonated. It can not be reached from the Visitor Center. The visitor center is located on U.S. Highway 70, 15 miles southwest of Alamogordo and 52 miles east of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Travelers from Carlsbad Caverns to southern Arizona can follow U.S. 82 through the scenic Sacramento Mountains to reach White Sands National Monument. The visitor center is open year-round. Entrance fees are collected at the entrance station on the Dunes Drive.. Hours change according to the times of the year. We suggest checking for more information, that is constantly updated, at the White Sands National Monument link, at the bottom of this page.
How To Get There:
Turn off Highway 70 between markers 169 & 170. There are signs on the highway.
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If you are planning to visit White Sands National Monument. And if you are coming from outside of New Mexico, you could fly into nearest major airport to San Antonio, New Mexico; which is Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF / KSAF). This airport is in Santa Fe, New Mexico and is about 47 miles from the center of San Antonio, NM, and then rent a car. You also could fly into the Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport (ALM / KALM). This airport is about 4 miles from the center of Alamogordo, NM..
There are many hotels and motels in New Mexico and Colorado, and if you need a place to stay; Priceline.com can arrange that for you. We have personally, booked flights, hotels, and vacations; through Priceline.com and we can highly recommend them. Their website is also easy to use! We have some links to Priceline.com on this page since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car. We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active. Whenever you make a purchase from a link on our page we get credit for that transaction. Again, Thanks!
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White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico. Courtesy: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. | White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico. Courtesy: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. |
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White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico. | White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico. |
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White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico. | White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico. |
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White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico. | White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico. |
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| Close Up Of Crystals Of Selenite Sand. White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico. | Close Up Of Crystals Of Selenite Sand. White Sands National, Monument. New Mexico. |
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Videos About The White Sands National Monument, No Obligation!
We Are Proud Of Our SafeSurf Rating!
| Back To New Mexico & Colorado Tours Page
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| Back To DeLange Home Page
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| Link To White Sands National Monument Home Page You Will Leave deLange.org
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