White Sands is the site of the largest pure gypsum dunes in the world. There's not much there, beyond this 1930s vintage visitor center.
On top of the sands, looking west towards the San Andres Mountains. Albert Fountain and his son Henry (see Oliver Lee/Dog Canyon post) were murdered near here. Their bodies were never recovered. Some believe they are still hidden nearby in the San Andres.
This stuff looks like snow!
We did find an occasional sign of life.
These hummocks remain after the dune passes on.
A specialized cottonwood lives in the dunes. The buds on this one are just starting to open. As long as some of the cottonwood's branches and leaves are above the dune surface, it manages to live until the dune passes.
These soap tree yucca may look short, but they're probably about twenty feet taller than what you see. When the dune passes they'll collapse and die.
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