Rising up from the New Mexico’s Tularosa Basin is one of the world’s great natural wonders, the seemingly endless gypsum (hydrous calcium sulfate) dunes of White Sands National Park. The park’s glistening white sands are the world’s largest gypsum dunefield which have engulfed 275 square miles of desert.
To the untrained eye, White Sands National Park can appear as a harsh and desolate place but in reality the park is composed of complex interconnected ecosystems which support 800 species of animals. Aside from wildlife, visitors can delve into the fascinating geological history of the park which began 280 million years ago when the Permian Sea covered the area. At a glance, it might just look like a bunch of sand but there is so much to appreciate if you know what to look for.
They say you should never look at the comments, but folks at White Sands National Park are committed to providing visitors with the best possible experience so they occasionally dip into their reviews to see where they might improve. Some of the comments they found were pretty funny and instead of downplaying them, they promoted them to shed light on some of the under appreciated aspects of the park. Here are couple negative reviews they have transformed into motivational posters:
We actually get this a lot…
Welcome, to the first installment of White Sands National Park Visitor Reviews as Inspirational Posters!
We cannot say that you are completely incorrect, there is a lot of sand here, 275 square miles to be exact! However, White Sands is more than sprawling hills of gypsum dunes. Although the sand is what initially piqued human interest with its extra-terrestrial landscape, White Sands protects more than what meets the eye.
Home to several species of endemic insects and animals, White Sands is a safe haven for creatures found no other place on earth. But what may be one of the most important things protected by the park is our own human history. About 23,000 years ago people like us lived in the Tularosa basin. They leave behind more questions than answers as their fossilized footprints travel across the desert floor along what was once a wetland environment. The footprints they left behind make up the largest and oldest collection of fossilized human footprints in North America.
Next time you are here, take a moment to consider that White Sands National Park is more than just a bunch of sand.
Sounds like you’ve been goofin’, but not new boot goofin’… you should change that.
Welcome back for our second installment of Visitor Reviews as Inspirational Posters!
Preparing for a trip can be difficult, but proper footwear should always be a concern when travelling from park to park. At White Sands National Park, our sand stays cool 365 days a year, so you can go barefoot anytime without burning your feet! If you don’t like your feet being sandy, we suggest wearing some form of footwear. But if we’re being honest the sand will infiltrate nearly any shoe. If you absolutely do not want any sand in your shoes, or on your feet, you can enjoy the vast dune-scape from your vehicle as you take a scenic journey down dunes drive.
Little known fact, White Sands has year round sledding!
