Respite

— Glistening white sands cover an area approximately 275 square miles of desert in New Mexico. White Sands National Monument is the world’s largest gypsum dune field. An otherworldly landscape, the area reaches temperatures over 100ºF (38ºC) in the summer months, dropping to around 65°F (18°C) at night. Extreme caution must be exercised if one hikes in the area. Without landmarks to guide you, one can very easily get lost. Although the area appears inhospitable, it is home to rattlesnakes, scorpions, black widows and many other animals. The structures shown in this photo are shelters along the drive.