White Sands National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White Sands National Park |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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Aerial view of dunefield
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 White Sands National Park
Location in the United States
White Sands National Park
Location in New Mexico
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| Location | Otero County and Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States |
| Nearest city | Alamogordo, New Mexico |
| Area | 145,762 acres (227.753 sq mi; 589.88 km2)+ |
| Established | January 18, 1933 (as a national monument) December 20, 2019 (as a national park) |
| Visitors | 782,469 (in 2021) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
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White Sands National Monument Historic District
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Former U.S. National Monument
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Visitor center
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| Built | 1936–38 (original NRHP buildings) |
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| Architect | Lyle E. Bennett, et al. |
| Architectural style | Pueblo Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000751 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 23, 1988 |
White Sands National Park is a special place in New Mexico, USA. It is known for its huge field of white sand dunes. These dunes are made of gypsum crystals. The park covers about 145,762 acres (590 square kilometers). It is the biggest gypsum dunefield on Earth.
About 12,000 years ago, this area had big lakes, rivers, and grasslands. Large Ice Age animals lived here. As the weather got warmer, rain and melting snow washed gypsum from the mountains into the basin. The lakes dried up, leaving behind selenite crystals. Strong winds then broke these crystals into sand. This process still creates the white sand today.
Many animals live in the park, including lots of insects. Some animals here are white or off-white. This helps them blend in with the sand. At least 45 species, mostly moths, live only in this park. Humans have also lived in the Tularosa Basin for a very long time.
White Sands was first named a National Monument in 1933. It became a national park in 2019. It is the most visited NPS site in New Mexico. About 600,000 people visit each year. You can drive through the dunes, have picnics, camp, and hike. Park rangers also lead fun walks and tours.
Contents
History of White Sands National Park
Ancient People of the Tularosa Basin
Scientists found fossil footprints of humans and ground sloths at White Sands. These tracks show that humans hunted ground sloths during the Ice Age.
Even older human footprints were found here. They are about 21,000 to 23,000 years old. This suggests that people arrived in North America much earlier than once thought.
Paleo-Indians lived by a large lake called Lake Otero. They used stone to make tools and spear points. They hunted huge animals like mammoths, camels, ground sloths, and bison. As the Ice Age ended, Lake Otero dried up. The area became a desert, and the large animals disappeared.
Later, Archaic people came to the Tularosa Basin about 4,000 years ago. They used a tool called an atlatl to throw spears. They also started farming and tending wild plants. You can still find old fire pits, called hearth mounds, in the dunes. These are preserved by the gypsum.
The Jornada Mogollon people lived in permanent houses and made pottery. They farmed the basin until about 1350 CE. They left behind pieces of pottery and adobe buildings.
Over 700 years ago, Apache groups came to the Tularosa Basin. They were nomadic hunters and gatherers. They lived in temporary homes like wickiups and teepees. The Apaches fought to protect their land when European settlers arrived. Famous Apache leaders like Victorio and Geronimo led battles against settlers and soldiers. The Battle of Hembrillo Basin in 1880 was one such fight. Eventually, the Apaches were moved to the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation. Today, the Mescalero Apache still feel a strong connection to this land.
European and American Settlers
The Tularosa Basin was mostly avoided by Spanish settlers until the 1800s. It had no reliable water and was Apache territory. Spaniards did travel through to collect salt from the salt pans. Salt was important for processing silver.
In the 1800s, American settlers tried to claim the salt flats. This led to conflicts, like the Magoffin Salt War in 1854. Courts eventually ruled that salt deposits should be free for public use.
The first US Army exploration of the area happened in 1849. Hispanic families started farming communities in Tularosa in 1861 and La Luz in 1863. They used gypsum sand to make plaster for their adobe homes. The white color helped keep their homes cool.
In the 1880s, heavy rains brought back grasslands, attracting ranchers. The Lucero family started ranching near Lake Lucero. The National Park Service later took over their land. You can still see parts of their old ranch today.
At the start of the 1900s, people looked for oil, coal, and minerals. Many mining claims were made, but few were developed. A plaster of Paris plant was built near the dunes. It used gypsum from the dunes to make plaster. This plant closed when the national monument was created.
Becoming a National Monument
The idea to protect the white sands started in 1898. A group wanted to create Mescalero National Park. This plan failed because it included hunting, which went against the idea of preservation.
From 1912 to 1922, Senator Albert B. Fall tried to create a national park. He wanted it to be open all year. His plan included different areas, like part of the Mescalero Indian reservation and the dune field. The director of the National Park Service, Stephen Mather, and other groups opposed it. They were concerned about using Indian land and allowing industrial use in parks. The bill failed.
In the 1920s, a local businessman named Tom Charles pushed for protecting the white sands. He helped get a better road built to the dunes. He wanted the dunes to be a national park. However, he was told that getting national monument status would be easier.
On January 18, 1933, President Herbert Hoover made White Sands a National Monument. He used the Antiquities Act of 1906 to do this. The monument officially opened on April 29, 1934. Tom Charles became its first manager.
The visitor center and other buildings were built between 1936 and 1938. They were made of adobe bricks as part of a Works Progress Administration project. These buildings are now part of the White Sands National Monument Historic District. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
The park is surrounded by military areas: White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base. This has sometimes caused problems. Missiles sometimes fell into the park, and planes flew overhead. Today, flight training still happens. The park sometimes closes for a few hours during missile tests for safety.
In the 1960s and 70s, oryx (a type of antelope) were released on the missile range for hunting. These animals entered the park and competed with native species for food. In 1996, a long fence was built to keep the oryx out of the park.
Becoming a National Park
In May 2018, Senator Martin Heinrich suggested making White Sands a national park. He talked with park officials, the military, and local groups. Many cities and organizations supported the idea.
However, some local county officials were against it. They worried about higher fees for filming and more rules. They also noted that the monument was already very popular.
On December 11, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to make White Sands a national park. The Senate also passed it, and President Donald Trump signed it on December 20. This law also changed the park's boundaries, adding more land to it.
Filming at White Sands
White Sands has been a popular place for filming movies and music videos. Many westerns were filmed here, like Hang 'Em High (1968). Other movies include King Solomon's Mines (1950) and Transformers (2007). The music video for Lady Gaga's song "911" (2020) was also filmed here.
Geography of White Sands
White Sands National Park is in southern New Mexico. It is about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Alamogordo. The park is in the Tularosa Basin. The land here ranges from 3,887 feet (1,185 meters) at Lake Lucero to 4,116 feet (1,255 meters) at another spot.
The main feature is the huge field of white sand dunes. These dunes are made of gypsum crystals. White Sands protects about 115 square miles (298 square kilometers) of this field. The rest of the dunes are in the White Sands Missile Range. The sand is about 30 feet (9 meters) deep, and some dunes are 60 feet (18 meters) tall. This dunefield formed about 7,000 to 10,000 years ago.
The park covers about 148,588 acres (601 square kilometers). Its boundaries were changed in 2019 when it became a national park. The missile range surrounds the park on all sides. Some western parts of the park are "cooperative use areas." You need a permit to visit these areas. The San Andres Mountains are to the west, and Holloman Air Force Base is to the east.
Climate at White Sands
White Sands National Park has a cold semi-arid climate. This means it's dry, but not as hot as a true desert. The growing season for plants is short, usually from April to October.
The warmest months are April through October. Average high temperatures are around 79°F (26°C) or higher. In June and July, afternoon temperatures can reach about 97°F (36°C). The hottest temperature ever recorded was 111°F (44°C) in June 1981.
The cooler months are November through March. Average low temperatures are below 32°F (0°C). December and January are the coldest. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -25°F (-32°C) in January 1962.
The park gets about 9.81 inches (24.9 cm) of rain each year. August is the wettest month. Most rain falls from July to October. Snow can happen from November to March, but it's usually only about 1.6 inches (4 cm) per year.
Geology of the White Sands Dunes
Millions of years ago, shallow seas covered this area. These seas left behind gypsum. Later, mountains formed, lifting the gypsum-rich seabed. Rain then dissolved the water-soluble gypsum from the mountains. Rivers carried it into the Tularosa Basin, which has no outlet to the sea. The water evaporated, leaving behind selenite crystals.
During the last ice age, a huge lake called Lake Otero covered much of the basin. When it dried up, a large flat area of selenite crystals remained. This area is now called the Alkali Flat.
Lake Lucero is a dry lakebed in the park. Rain and snowmelt fill it with water containing dissolved gypsum. When the water evaporates, small selenite crystals form. Wind and water then break these crystals into fine white gypsum sand.
The ground in the Alkali Flat and near Lake Lucero is covered with selenite crystals. Some are up to 3 feet (1 meter) long. Over time, these crystals break down into sand. The wind then carries the sand, forming the white dunes. The dunes are always changing shape and slowly moving.
Because gypsum dissolves in water, the sand can stick together after rain. This makes the sand harder and more resistant to wind. However, the dunes still move and can quickly cover plants. Some plants can grow fast enough to escape being buried. Others form a hard base around their roots to stay stable.
White Sands has different kinds of dunes.
- Dome dunes are found on the edges.
- Transverse and barchan dunes are in the center.
- Parabolic dunes are on the northern, southern, and northeastern edges.
Scientists study the dunes using lasers, water wells, and satellites. They measure sand grains and look at temperature changes. The dunes on the western side are taller (over 50 feet or 15 meters) and move faster. They have less plant life. The dunes on the eastern side are smaller, move slower, and have more plants.
Ecology and Wildlife at White Sands
More than 600 kinds of invertebrates (animals without backbones), 300 plants, 250 birds, 50 mammals, 30 reptiles, seven amphibians, and one fish species live in White Sands National Park. Many animals here are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night.
Some animals have special ways to survive in this dry, salty environment. Many species in the dunes have slowly changed color over time. They have become much lighter than their relatives elsewhere. This helps them blend in with the white sand and hide from predators. Many of these white species live only in this park.
Plants of the Dunes
The plants at White Sands help hold the dunes in place. They also provide food and shelter for animals. Native Americans used many of these plants for food, cloth, and medicine. For example, they wove mats from thick grass blades and ate some grass seeds.
Plants here must be tough to live in the poor, salty soil. They need to survive temperatures from freezing to over 100°F (38°C). Many plants can handle high salt levels. Some, called gypsophiles, even thrive in these conditions.
- Cacti like the cane cholla and other desert succulents like the soaptree yucca store water. They bloom in the spring.
- Desert grasses like alkali sacaton and Indian rice grass can tolerate the salty soil. Their seeds provide food for small animals like Apache pocket mice and kangaroo rats.
Native Americans used many parts of the soaptree yucca. The young flower stalks are rich in vitamin C. The roots were used to make soap for washing.
Other plants include skunkbush sumac, Rio Grande cottonwood, hoary rosemary mint, and Mormon tea. The fruit of the claret cup cactus is very sweet. Native Americans used hoary rosemary mint for seasoning. They used skunkbush sumac berries for drinks and its stems for baskets. The cottonwood's buds and flowers are edible. Mormon tea contains ephedrine, which helps with cold symptoms.
Animals and Their Life Cycles
More than 800 animal species live in the park. Many are active at night. Several species have adapted to this harsh environment. They can live with little surface water and very salty groundwater. Some animals in the dunes have changed color over centuries. They are much lighter than their relatives elsewhere. This helps them hide from predators and reproduce more successfully.
- Invertebrates are the largest group, with over 600 species. These include spiders, wasps, beetles, and moths. Examples are the Apache jumping spider and the sand scorpion. The Maricopa harvester ant has very strong venom. Its sting can cause intense pain for hours.
- Birds are common, with 246 species recorded. You might see wrens, mockingbirds, and ravens. Larger birds like roadrunners and raptors are also here. The Cactus wren has a white streak over its eyes. Birds are usually seen near the visitor center and the edges of the dunes.
- Mammals often stay in their dens during the hot days. You can see their footprints in the dunes from their nightly activities. Carnivorans include coyotes, bobcats, and kit foxes. Rabbits like desert cottontails and black-tailed jackrabbits are also present. Rodents include porcupines and Merriam's kangaroo rats. The pallid bat hunts insects on the ground.
- Reptiles include lizards and snakes. Common lizards are the bleached earless lizard and the little white whiptail. Common snakes include the coachwhip and several types of rattlesnake. The only turtle is the desert box turtle.
- Amphibians include three types of toads: the Great Plains toad, western toad, and red-spotted toad. Three types of spadefoot toads are also found. They have a hard "spade" on their back feet to dig into the ground. The barred tiger salamander is the only salamander.
- Fish are rare, but the White Sands pupfish is found only here. It is the only fish species in the park. It has dark eyes and silver scales.
Paleontology: Ancient Life at White Sands
Before the last ice age ended about 12,000 years ago, the Tularosa Basin was very different. It had big lakes, streams, and grasslands. The weather was wetter and cooler. Lake Otero was a huge lake, covering an area larger than the state of Rhode Island.
This basin was full of life. Large Ice Age mammals lived by Lake Otero and in the grasslands. Columbian mammoths, ground sloths, ancient camels, dire wolves, lions, and saber-toothed cats all walked across the area where the dunes are now.
These animals left behind fossil footprints in the muddy shores of Lake Otero. Their weight pressed into the wet clay and gypsum. The wind can uncover these fragile tracks, but they erode away quickly.
Scientists have found many fossil footprints here. In the 2010s, they found footprints of a dire wolf next to ancient seeds. These seeds were over 18,000 years old. Fossil footprints of ground sloths have also been found. Sometimes, human footprints are found with Ice Age animal tracks. One set shows humans stalking sloths.
In 2021, a study found many human footprints dating back about 21,000 to 23,000 years. This is strong evidence that people lived in the Americas much earlier than previously thought.
Ice Age Carnivores
- Dire wolves lived in North and South America during the Ice Age. They were about 2.6–2.8 feet (80–85 cm) tall and weighed 130–150 pounds (60–68 kg). They were similar in size to modern gray wolves, but more muscular. They had powerful jaws and likely hunted in packs.
- American lions were large cats that lived in North America. They were about four feet (1.2 m) tall at the shoulder and weighed over 500 pounds (230 kg). They had long, slender legs for chasing prey. They hunted animals like deer, camels, ground sloths, and young mammoths.
- Saber-toothed cats are famous for their huge canine teeth, which could be 7 to 10 inches (17–20 cm) long. They were about 3 feet (1 meter) tall and weighed up to 750 pounds (340 kg). They had a strong, muscular build to take down large prey like sloths and young mammoths. Some evidence suggests they hunted in packs.
Ice Age Herbivores
- Columbian mammoths were enormous, standing up to 14 feet (over four meters) tall at the shoulder. They weighed 18,000–22,000 pounds (8,000–10,000 kilograms). They had large tusks and ridged teeth for eating plants. Unlike woolly mammoths, they probably didn't have much hair.
- Ancient camels originated in North America. The ancient western camel probably looked like modern one-humped dromedary camels, but with longer legs. They were about seven feet (over two meters) tall at the shoulder. They ate plants over large areas and left unique footprints.
- Ground sloths are ancient relatives of modern tree sloths. The Harlan's ground sloth was huge, standing 10 feet (three meters) tall when upright. It weighed over a ton (about 2,200–2,400 pounds or 1000–1090 kilograms). These giant plant-eaters walked slowly, leaving kidney-bean shaped footprints. Some ground sloth prints look like they were made by a giant human, but this is because their back feet covered their front feet tracks.
Visiting White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park is the most visited NPS site in New Mexico. It gets about 600,000 visitors each year. In 2021, it had over 780,000 visitors. Many people come in the warmer months, from March to August. But you can see people sledding and taking photos all year round. March and July are the busiest months.
The Dunes Drive goes 8 miles (13 km) into the dunes from the visitor center. There are three picnic areas. You can also camp overnight in the backcountry campground, which has ten sites. Five marked trails, totaling 9 miles (14 km), let you explore the dunes on foot.
Park rangers lead guided walks and tours throughout the year. Sunset strolls happen every evening. Lake Lucero hikes are offered once a month from November to April. Full moon guided hikes are available from April to October. The park also has a Junior Ranger Program with activities for different age groups.
The park and U.S. Route 70 sometimes close for safety. This happens when missile tests are done at White Sands Missile Range, which surrounds the park. Dunes Drive might close for up to three hours during these tests. Park staff usually know about tests two weeks ahead of time. However, sometimes they get as little as 24 hours' notice. All activities, like horseback riding, camping, hiking, and sledding, are not allowed during these closures. In 2020, visitors spent about $22.5 million in nearby towns. This helped the local economy.
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional White Sands para niños
- List of national parks of the United States
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Otero County, New Mexico
- Trinity Site – world's first nuclear weapon test, at White Sands Missile Range
