major part of this gypsEMRTC

um dune field, along with the plants and animals that have adapte
d successfully to this constantly changing environment.At the nort

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the Chihuahuan D

esert lies a

mountain-ringed valley, the Tularosa Basin. Rising from the heart of this basin is one of the world's great natural wonders-the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert here and created the largest gypsum dune field in the world. The dunes, brilliant and white, are ever changing. They grow, crest, then slump

but always advance. Slowly bu If you would like to review our privacy policy for information on how we will use any personal information t relentles

sly t

he san

d, driven by strong

southwest winds, covers e

verything in its path. Within the extr

emely harsh environment of the dune

field, even plants an

d animals adapted to desert conditions strug

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gle to survive. Only a few sp


ecies of

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plants grow

rapidly enough to survive burial by the moving dun


  

es, but several types of small animals have

evolved white colora
tions to camouf
lage them in the