A dazzling field of pure-white gypsum dunes in New Mexico — the largest of its kind in the world.
Area
710 km²
Continent
North America
Location
New Mexico, USA
Temperature
Up to 38°C
Rainfall
Under 250 mm a year
Climate
Hot desert
About the White Sands
White Sands is unlike any other desert: its dunes are made not of ordinary sand but of brilliant white gypsum, washed down from surrounding mountains and left behind as the water evaporates. It is the largest gypsum dunefield on Earth and became a US national park in 2019. The pale sand stays cool even under a blazing sun.
Did you know?
The sand is cool to the touch even in summer because white gypsum reflects the sun’s heat.
Highlights
- The world’s largest gypsum dunefield
- Sand stays cool even in summer
- A US national park since 2019
Photo gallery
Life in the White Sands
Animals, birds and plants that have adapted to survive this landscape.
Animals
Coyote
A clever, adaptable wild dog of North America’s deserts and plains.
Desert tortoise
A long-lived reptile that digs burrows to escape the searing heat.
Birds
Greater roadrunner
A fast ground bird of the American deserts that chases down lizards.
Trees & plants
Creosote bush
A hardy shrub whose clones can live for thousands of years.
Prickly pear
A flat-padded cactus with edible fruit, spread across many deserts.
Day & night in the White Sands
Deserts are famous for their extreme temperature swings. Flip between day and night to feel the difference — these are typical figures for a subtropical desert.
Midday sun
+45°C
typical daytime high
Blistering daytime heat gives way to surprisingly cool nights — clear skies let the day’s warmth escape, and the temperature can tumble by 30°C or more after dark.
Recorded range for the White Sands: Up to 38°C