White Sands National Monument

The Tularosa Basin lies in a mountain-ringed valley in southeast New Mexico. In this flat basin and range country is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of White Sands National Monument. The ever shifting dunes cover 275 square miles of desert with a fine, powdery white gysum sand. The ever growing dune fields are born in Lake Lucero, on the southwest edge of the dunes, and are blown by the prevaling southwest winds to the north and east, engulfing the desert lying in it's path. Only a few species of plants and animals have adapted to this unique environment of ever shifting sands - several small animals have evolved a white coloration that camouflages them in the gypsum sand.

Directions to get you to White Sands and information about the facilities, entrance fees.

Lake Lucero and the geologic origin of White Sands.

Photography Suggestions

Snapshots by VIVA!'s Ron Wayne Green, or why you ought to read "Photograghy Suggestions".

Special Events Lake Lucero tours, Full Moon events schedules, etc.

Precautions and special considerations.

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