No, White Sands National Park is not man-made. It is a natural wonder.
The unique landscape of White Sands National Park, characterized by its glistening white dunes, is the result of natural geological processes that have unfolded over millions of years. It began with an ancient sea that once covered the southwestern United States.
Formation Process:
- Ancient Sea and Gypsum Deposits: Millions of years ago, an ancient sea covered much of what is now the southwestern United States. During this period, layers of gypsum were deposited on the seafloor.
- Uplift and Erosion: Over time, geological uplift raised the seabed, exposing the gypsum deposits. Erosion by wind and water then began to break down the gypsum rock into fine grains of sand.
- Dune Formation: The prevailing winds carried these gypsum sand grains, gradually accumulating them into the impressive dune fields that define White Sands National Park today.
Therefore, the park's formation is a natural process involving geological forces and weather patterns, not human intervention.
