TranslateUSA, NM - White Sands National Park
Read More
A rough morning at White Sands National Park. Strong winds creating some dust devils in the distance. White Sands National Park rises from the heart of the Tularosa Basin and created the world's largest gypsum dune field. White Sands was established as a national monument in 1933 and re-desginated as a national park in 2019.
White Sands National Park, New Mexico
The dunes at White Sands are not the fastest movers in the world, but it's safe to say that this signpost doesn't have a chance.
White Sands National Park, New Mexico
Life as a plant in the dune fields of White Sands is really rough. Plants must be able to withstand the climatic conditions of the Chihuahuan Desert, adapt to a constantly shifting landscape, and must be successful in finding sources of water and nutrients, which can be very difficult in the sterile, gypsum sand. As a result of these harsh living conditions, only a few plants can call the White Sands gypsum dunefield home. These plants have adapted to their environment and developed special survival strategies in order to thrive in this glistening landscape.
White Sands National Park, New Mexico
Soft wavy ripples in the white sand at White Sands National Park, New Mexico
White Sands National Park, New Mexico
White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, New Mexico
White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, New Mexico
White Sands National Park, New Mexico
Freshly plowed road through White Sands National Park in New Mexico, USA
White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, New Mexico
Soaptree Yuccas plants on the slope of a sand dune in White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, New Mexico. The soaptree yucca uses stem elongation to stay above the advancing dunes. This yucca produces large cream-colored blooms on stalks in late spring. The yucca is a virtual “store” in the desert as American Indians used most parts of the plant. The young flower stalks are rich in vitamin C. The flower pods can be boiled or roasted like a potato. The leaf fibers were used for the fabrication of rope, matting, sandals, baskets, or coarse cloth. The roots were chopped and boiled to produce soap to wash hair, blankets, and rugs.
White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, New Mexico
Dunes at White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, New Mexico
White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, New Mexico
Footprints in the sand
White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, New Mexico
Dunes at White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, New Mexico
White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, New Mexico
Dunes at White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, New Mexico
