White Sands

From White Sands

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Yesterday (Saturday) we rode to White Sands Missile Range. This is where America's first atomic weapons were tested, and where, to this day, much of the missile testing occurs. Char saw the sign for "White Sands Museum" and suggested that we stop. And I'm sure glad she did.

From White Sands

Here we viewed weapons components and missiles that dated from the late 1940's to some current systems such as the Patriot Missile. Of course, I enjoyed the "antique" Huey (that I used to fly)!

From White Sands

From there we rode to White Sands National Monument. The gypsum erodes from the surrounding mountains and flows down into depressional areas called plyas. Since there is no river that drains out of the basin to carry the sand away, it stays in the pools. After the water evaporates, the sand blows away - and much ends up in the dunes - about 278 square miles of dunes. Check it out on Google Earth - it's awesome!

From White Sands