White Sands National Park

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White Sands National Park

national park, New Mexico, United States

Also known as: White Sands National Monument

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Formerly (1933–2019):: White Sands National Monument

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gypsum dunesGypsum dunes at White Sands National Park, New Mexico.

White Sands National Park, an expanse of dazzling white gypsum sands in south-central New Mexico, U.S., covering 275 square miles (712 square km). It is situated in the Tularosa Basin, between Alamogordo (northeast) and Las Cruces (southwest). Established in 1933 as a national monument, it was redesignated a national park in 2019.

test explosionA test explosion at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, June 27, 1985.

The basin lies between the San Andres Mountains (west) and the Sacramento Mountains (east). The sand constantly drifts into dunes 10 to 60 feet (3 to 18 metres) high. In the southwest corner of the park is Lake Lucero, a usually dry marsh (playa) encrusted with selenite crystals created by the evaporation of gypsum-laden runoff water. The gypsum is the product of decomposed limestone, which is the predominant rock type of the surrounding region. The extensive Alkali Flat area, to the north of the lake, is similarly created by underground water drawn to the surface. There is little plant life; the animals, mainly mice and lizards, are light-hued, blending with the sand. To the west is San Andres National Wildlife Refuge. White Sands Missile Range encircles the park, and Holloman Air Force Base lies to the east.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.