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Alamogordo, NM, lies just East of White Sands National Park, with a population of just over 31,000. The town itself covers over 21 sq miles. You can see Alamogordo, NM, from the East looking Westward in this post photo. The white strip at the foot of distant mountains is White Sands, National Park. The park only consists of the southern part of the dunes, and an extensive military missile test range occupies the central and northern dunes.
Additional trivia information:
“The mineral that forms the dunes of White Sands National Park is about 98 percent pure gypsum sand. Gypsum sand is considered rare because gypsum is water soluble—it dissolves in water like sugar in iced tea. It is even rarer to find gypsum sand in the form of dunes, which are mounds of sand piled up by wind. The 275-square miles of dunes are comprised of over 4.5 billion tons of gypsum sand. It is one of the many things that make White Sands a unique and special place.” — NPS.GOV
I never knew that about the gypsum at White Sands. I suppose I just assumed it was a particularly white sand without thinking of the mineral that made it that way.
Gypsum is one of the more common things being hauled around in the Great Lakes by ships. I took some aerial photos of a U.S. Gypsum Corp property a few months ago and they had large piles of the stuff covered in tarps.
Thanks for the education Earl.
I educated myself as well, Mark. I knew White Sands Natl Park was gypsum sand, but until I did some research, I didn’t realize it was water soluble. It makes sense commercial piles of gypsum are covered in tarps for rain protection.
I didn’t know Gypsum is one of the more common things being hauled by ships around the Great Lakes. We’ll call the education thing, even. :-)
I also never knew that about the gypsum at White Sands. I also did not know that gypsum as a commodity moved over the Great Lakes. Fascinating! So what else you two have to teach me?
There’s certainly not a lack of new things I don’t know. We’ll have to see what turns up. Thanks, Monte.