These white dunes are made of fine and very rare gypsum sand that look like mounds of snow in the distance. They are ever changing, driven by the strong southwest winds. They have engulfed 275 square miles of the Chihuahua Desert. We were amazed as we drove through the 8 mile loop within the park at the different types of dunes.
We found this Yellow Evening Primrose in one of our hikes into the dunes. They grow only in the low areas between the dunes where there is better soil and protection from the blowing winds.
Soaptree Yuccas against the stark white sand and the blue sky. If a passing dune starts to bury the yucca plants, their stems will grow rapidly upward so their leaves will remain above the sand.
Even trees and bushes manage to exist here!
Cottonwoods appear among the dunes since they can put down deep roots for water. They will survive even if most of the tree is covered by a dune as long as a few leaves remain above the sand.
Here is an example of the cottonwood tree after being buried. All you see is the very top of the tree and its roots!
These white dunes are made of fine and very rare gypsum sand that look like mounds of snow in the distance. They are ever changing, driven by the strong southwest winds. They have engulfed 275 square miles of the Chihuahua Desert. We were amazed as we drove through the 8 mile loop within the park at the different types of dunes. 
We found this Yellow Evening Primrose in one of our hikes into the dunes. They grow only in the low areas between the dunes where there is better soil and protection from the blowing winds.
Soaptree Yuccas against the stark white sand and the blue sky. If a passing dune starts to bury the yucca plants, their stems will grow rapidly upward so their leaves will remain above the sand.
Even trees and bushes manage to exist here!
Cottonwoods appear among the dunes since they can put down deep roots for water. They will survive even if most of the tree is covered by a dune as long as a few leaves remain above the sand. 
Here is an example of the cottonwood tree after being buried. All you see is the very top of the tree and its roots! 
The white sand is amazing and I'm sure that the photos don't even do it justice!!!!
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