White Sands National Park, New Mexico, United States Jan. 18, 2026

White Sands National Park, New Mexico, United States

If "Frozen" traded ice for sand, the result would look a lot like White Sands National Park in New Mexico—cool, white dunes that deceive the eye at first glance. It became a national monument on this day in 1933, established to protect a rare geological phenomenon: the world"s largest gypsum dunefield. These dunes were formed from gypsum crystals that broke down over thousands of years, creating bright waves that stay cool even in summer.

© Francesco Carucci/Getty Images

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Today in History

The largest gypsum dune field
Jan. 18, 2024Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France
Jan. 18, 2025Dunes at White Sands National Park, New Mexico

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