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, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and created the world's largest gypsum dune field.
First time I went to white sand, it was the end of summer, and I was really amazed by this white desert. Although it is a desert and a ‘moving one’ some plants succeed to survived. Yes it is moving like with any dune, the wind is a huge factor, and make the landscape changed and moved, which of course become a big problem to maintain the paths and roads within this exceptional area.
Here, again you are confronted to the immensity and the very long work of time through the landscape.
When in this desert, you are definitely called for meditation and rejuvenation. If you are looking for some inspiration, it is a fabulous place to reconnect with nature and , by simply be in the moment, enjoying this unique site, immensity, and calm.
Even in the middle of the hottest summer days, when touching the sand, about ½ inch under, it is cold; the sand is such a pure white, that it deflects the sun heat. So be careful, don’t get lost and stay to late in this fascinating beauty, or the cold will get you at dusk…
This white sand is almost pure gypsum. Gypsum is different from many other rocks because it is readily soluble. This Gypsum comes from the surrounding mountain, and the rain dissolve the Gypsum to gathered it in ‘Lucero Basin’, in a shallow lake, which during the hottest months evaporates. A crust form on the lakebed and most of it form beautiful crystals called Selenite.
These crystals are extremely soft and fragile, the wind and the rain break them apart into smaller and smaller pieces, which soon become sand.
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