Archived Feature:
White Sands, New Mexico
In the desert of southern New Mexico is a stretch of highway—US 70—which connects the towns of Las Cruces and Alamogordo. The highway at this point is also passing through the White Sands Missile Range, and so is closed to traffic when certain kinds of tests are being conducted. It is here, just southwest of Alamogordo, that you'll find White Sands National Monument.
The sand's bright white color comes from the fact that it is composed mostly of gypsum, the same mineral used to create the wallboard in the typical home (whereas true sand is composed chiefly of quartz). White Sands has a number of hiking trails which enable you to leave your car in order to further enjoy the beautiful desert scenery formed by the juxtaposition of the bright white sands and the blue mountain peaks in the distance.
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