White Sands National Park, New Mexico

White Sands National Park, New Mexico Photo by Alexander Hatley-

 
Top 10 Remarquable Facts about the White Sands National Monument
 
White Sands National Monument is a national park in the United State鈥檚 New Mexico State. The White Sands Missile Range surrounds 275 square miles of the park.
 
The Tularosa Basin is where you find the park. The Basin is between mountains in the east and west directions. On the east are the Sacramento Mountains while the San Andres Mountains are on the west.
 
Tularosa Basin neighbors Alamogordo city on the northeast and Las Cruces city on the southwest. White sands National Monument’s fame results from its vast field of white dunes. The white sand is a composition of gypsum crystals.
 
This natural wonder of gypsum dunes is the only one of its kind in the world. The dunes go as high as 60 feet or 18 meters. The gypsum sand in the park is over 4 billion tons. Get to know about the White Sands National Monument with these top 10 amazing truths about the park.
 
1. It began as a National Monument in 1933
 
White Sands National Monument

White Sands National Monument Photo by Greg Schechter-

 
The White Sands dune field in 1870 was already an area of scientific interest. In the same year, the first published research on the monument’s white sands appeared in scientific journals.
 
The area gained supporters championing the location to become a national monument. One Such supporter was Tom Charles. He was a businessman and resident of Alamogordo.
 
Charles was not the first or only person to suggest White Sands be a monument. But he was enthusiastic about the idea. He took the initiative to write the congressmen to address the matter. Charles also wrote the National Park Service officials on the same.
 
White Sands National Monument started in 1933. It happened during the final years of the administration of U.S. President Herbert Hoover.
 
President Hoover under the 1906 Antiquities Act and presidential proclamation number 2025 declared the monument. The declaration was the start of the monument and included over 140 000 acres set aside. This was to support any extra features of the monument like educational, scientific, and scenic purposes.
 
2. The monument became a national park in 2019
 
Under the leadership of U.S.  President Donald Trump on 20 December 2019, the monument was re-designated as White Sands National Park. This happened through the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 signed into law by President Trump.
 
The park is registered in the National Park System as the 62nd designated national park. Besides the white dunes, the park has the largest collection of Ice-Age fossilized footprints in the world. It proves the existence of a human presence that lived in the area for over 20000 years.
 
3. The national park differs from a national monument 
 
The difference between a national park and a monument is that designation of an area to a park is through Congress legislation. While a national monument creation is under the guidance of the Antiquities Act of 1906. The act gives authority to a U.S. President to select an area as a national monument.
 
Another difference is that a national park aims at preserving scenic, recreational, educational, and inspirational values. National monuments’ content varies and may hold objects of scientific interest, and historical and/or cultural significance.
 
4. The park鈥檚 sand is gypsum
 
white gypsum sand

White gypsum sand on White Sands National Park, Photo by Jaygannett-

 
The White Sands National Park sand is gypsum. The park has the largest gypsum dune field in the world. The gypsum sand forms wave-like dunes that offer a spectacular view.
 
The gypsum sand forms as a result of rainwater and snowmelt that dissolve the gypsum from the surrounding mountains. The dissolved gypsum flows into the Tularosa Basin.
 
Evaporation takes place and with no outlet for the water selenite crystals form. Strong winds in the area break the crystals leading to the formation of the gypsum sand.
 
5. Gypsum is clear yet appears white
 
Gypsum is a clear substance but to the human eye appears white. The White Sands National Park dunes appear white as snow.
 
This is because the gypsum grains bang onto one another causing scratches on the crystals. Under the sun’s rays’ reflection, the scratches appear to be white by human eye observation.
 
6. The park inhabits animals
 
Bleached earless lizard, White Sands National Park, New Mexico, United States

Bleached earless lizard, White Sands National Park, New Mexico, United States Photo by National Park Service-

 
Many of the animals within the park are invertebrates such as insects, spiders, crustaceans, and many more. The White Sands National Park has over 40 animal species unique to the park. Many of which are moth species.
 
Between 1969 and 1977 the White Sands National Monument received over 90 African Oryx from the Kalahari Desert. The wild Oryx is a type of antelope species from East Africa.
 
The species has increased over the years to over 3000 animals. Their weight is about 450 pounds each. They have horns 34 inches long on average. You can spot the animals roaming the dune field.
 
Human inhabitants’ traces date over 10000 years ago in the Tularosa Basin. In modern today you can find miners, farmers, and ranchers within the region.
 
7. The dunes are cool even on the hottest days
 
The White Sands National Park gypsum sand is pleasant to your feet. Gypsum sand is unique because it doesn鈥檛 absorb heat from the sun as silica sand does. So you can walk on the cool gypsum dunes on hot days.
 
8. The park is New Mexico鈥檚 most visited NPS site
 
White Sands National Park in New Mexico is recorded as the highest visited among the National Park Service sites. The park receives over half a million tourists every year.
 
There are many fun activities you can enjoy in the park. First, there is a drive from the visitor center to the heart of the dune field that is breathtaking. You can buy sleds from the visitor center and spent your time sledding on the dunes in the park.
 
You can hike on the marked trails or go backcountry camping. There are plenty of picnic areas you can make use of. You can choose to have fun in the sun the best way you know how to.
 
9. The park offers sunset tours and moonlight hikes
 
White Sands National Monument - New Mexico - late evening

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico – late evening Photo by Murray Foubister-

 
The moonlight and sunset offer a new perspective of the White Sands National Park. You can experience the magic of the light changes in a sunset tour or moonlight hike.
 
You can opt for a guided tour where a ranger leads the expedition. The visitor center offers all information you need to know about the park so it is handy if you plan a visit to the park.
 
10. The park is famous for its unique dune environment
 
The White Sands National Park’s popularity rises from its dune environment the only one of its kind on the globe. The white gypsum dunes, wildlife, and vegetation in this area are only found in the Chihuahuan Desert. The park is part of this ecosystem based on the northern end of the desert.
 
A lot happens at the White Sands National Park including its environs. The park borders the site where the first detonation of an atomic bomb took place.
 
The national park is worth a stop if you find yourself around southern New Mexico. You can plan a visit and soak in the wonder of the white sands or take part in the fun activities the park offers.

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