There’s a place unlike any other on Earth in southern New Mexico. Rippling white dunes sprawl across 275 square miles. It’s called White Sands, and it’s the newest national park protected by the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS oversees more than 400 national and historic sites, but only 62 have the designation of national park.
Like many national parks, White Sands started out as a national monument. “People don’t remember Grand Canyon National Monument, but this has been a pathway for a lot of our national parks,” says Kelly Carroll, a geologist and park ranger at White Sands National Park. National monuments can be established by a presidential executive order. But to become a national park, Congress must pass formal legislation. White Sands officially became a national park on December 20, 2019.
In southern New Mexico, there’s a place like nowhere else on Earth. Wavy white sand dunes stretch across 275 square miles of land. The place is called White Sands. It’s the newest national park protected by the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS oversees more than 400 national and historic sites. But only 62 of those are national parks.
Like many national parks, White Sands started out as a national monument. “This has been a pathway for a lot of our national parks,” says Kelly Carroll. She’s a geologist and park ranger at White Sands National Park. Presidents can create national monuments by issuing an executive order. But Congress must pass formal legislation to make a place a national park. White Sands officially became a national park on December 20, 2019.