Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Here, dunes have engulfed 275 square miles of desert creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Monument preserves this dunefield, along with the plants and animals that have adapted to this constantly changing environment. Unlike dunes made of quartz-based sand crystals, the gypsum does not readily convert the sun's energy into heat and…
732