The largest gypsum dune field in the world, next to a military test range where the first atomic bomb was detonated in 1945
Area
585 km²
Protection category
IUCN II
Parque nacional —
Designated in
2019
Declared in 2019 — one of the most recent national parks in the United States — White Sands protects the largest gypsum dune field in the world, an unusual mineral for dune formations on this scale because it normally dissolves readily in rain. The park borders directly on the White Sands military test range, where in July 1945 the first atomic bomb in history was detonated (the Trinity test), some 100 km north of its dunes.
Location
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White Sands: 30 documented species
Mammals9Birds10Reptiles3Insecta
Flora and ecosystems
Ecosystems found in the United States, where White Sands lies.
DesertTemperate forestTundra / polarWetland
Experiences in this park
Birdwatching
Wildlife you can see now
What is worth looking out for this month in the United States?
Now is a good time: Urban bat colony under Congress Avenue Bridge (March to November (peak in summer))
Similar parks
Which other parks are like this one?
Same country: United States
Same country: United States
Same country: United States
Same country: United States
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about this park.
Comments
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