White Sands Desert
White Sands National Monument – a 275-square-mile desert of soft sands in New Mexico, adjacent to the military base where the first atomic bomb was detonated in 1945, is one of the most serene places in the world. The paradox of finding such tranquility so near to destruction only underlines its beauty. Photo by: eqqman
In the middle of the day during the summer, the temperature regularly reaches 100 degree Fahrenheit ( 38 degree Celsius), and whiteness of the wavelike dunes of sand threatens to dazzle you completely. When the sun goes down, behind the San Andreas Mountains, the land is bathed in a mysterious rosy light. At night time life is more than enough, with 210 species of bird, 44 mammal species, and 26 different reptiles, as well as insects coming to play. Lizards, oryx antelopes, turtles, lynx and kangaroo rats run across the sand leaving a maze of traces. Photo by: Leviathor
Visit the museum set on Highway 70 to understand the area’s fascinating history and geography. The desert is the world’s largest gypsum dune field, 1,200 m high. Take the driving loop and stop for a walk into the pristine white dunes. The light is magnificent and will guarantee some of the best photographs. Photo by: Mr. Mark
When the sun begins to set, make sure you keep an eye out for Pavla Blanca, the ghost of Manuela, a sixteenth-century beauty who is reputed to roam the dunes in search of her beloved husband, the conquistador Hernando de Luna. Photo by: Ozyman
An extreme environment devoid of humans, White Sands has a dreamlike quality. These beautiful and immaculate dunes could be on an another planet. Photo by: eqqman
Location: Tularosa Basin, New Mexico.
