Qualla: White Sands https://qualla.com/white-sands en-us © 2026 Bendyline Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:21:05 GMT Qualla serial false Qualla support@bendyline.com yes https://qualla.com/_m/9/t/u/d/white-sands-wk/hero-small.webp Qualla: White Sands https://qualla.com/white-sands White Sands: Introduction https://qualla.com/white-sands/ Photo credit AllenS, Public domain. White Sands is what remains when an ancient lake evaporates and the wind takes over. The Tularosa Basin in southern New Mexico is a landlocked depression - water flows in but has no outlet to the sea. Over thousands of years, gypsum from the surrounding mountains collected in Lake Lucero. As the climate dried, the lake shrank, and wind-blown gypsum crystals began accumulating as dunes. Today, 275 square miles of brilliant white gypsum sand ripple across the basin floor - the world's largest gypsum dune field. The sand is so white it looks like snow. The dunes are so pure that they've been used for testing missiles at adjacent White Sands Missile Range. Plants and animals have adapted to this harsh environment with remarkable strategies, including lizards and mice that have evolved white coloration for camouflage. White Sands became America's 62nd national park in 2019.

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]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/9/t/u/d/white-sands-wk/9tud-white-sands-intro.mp3 0:06 1 full White Sands: The Formation https://qualla.com/white-sands/ Photo credit AllenS, Public domain. The Tularosa Basin is a graben - a block of land that dropped between two fault lines millions of years ago. Water flows into it from surrounding mountains but has no outlet; the only escape is evaporation. The gypsum comes from the San Andres and Sacramento Mountains, dissolving...

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]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/9/t/u/d/white-sands-wk/9tud-white-sands-the-formation.mp3 0:06 2 full White Sands: The Adaptation https://qualla.com/white-sands/ Photo credit AllenS, Public domain. Living on white sand requires special adaptations. Several species have evolved white coloration to match their environment - a textbook example of natural selection in action. The bleached earless lizard and Apache pocket mouse are both notably lighter than their relatives elsew...

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]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/9/t/u/d/white-sands-wk/9tud-white-sands-the-adaptation.mp3 0:06 3 full White Sands: The Military https://qualla.com/white-sands/ Photo credit AllenS, Public domain. White Sands Missile Range surrounds the national park, and the military presence shapes the visitor experience. The first atomic bomb was tested at Trinity Site, 60 miles north, in 1945. The missile range tests rockets, missiles, and various weapons; road closures occur during te...

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]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/9/t/u/d/white-sands-wk/9tud-white-sands-the-military.mp3 0:06 4 full White Sands: The Park https://qualla.com/white-sands/ Photo credit AllenS, Public domain. White Sands became a national monument in 1933 and a national park in 2019. The upgrade recognized the site's unique geological and biological significance. Visitor facilities are minimal but sufficient: a visitor center, an 8-mile scenic drive into the dunes, and trails ranging ...

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]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/9/t/u/d/white-sands-wk/9tud-white-sands-the-park.mp3 0:06 5 full White Sands: Visiting White Sands https://qualla.com/white-sands/ Photo credit AllenS, Public domain. White Sands National Park is located 15 miles southwest of Alamogordo, New Mexico, via US-70. Hours vary due to missile range testing; check the website before visiting. The 8-mile Dunes Drive leads into the heart of the dune field. Hiking trails range from wheelchair-accessible ...

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]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/9/t/u/d/white-sands-wk/9tud-white-sands-visiting-white-sands.mp3 0:06 6 full