2013 Map of Heart of the Sands

About this map

White Sands National Monument dominates this portion of the Tularosa Valley, preserving a landscape shaped by shifting gypsum dunes. This 2013 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey documents the distinct environmental zones within the monument, including the vast Alkali Flat and the iconic White Sands formations. The map illustrates the minimal human intervention in this protected area, showing only a few established routes such as Loop Dr navigating the dunes. Researchers and geologists can use this data to study the subtle topographic changes in the basin floor, where public land survey system lines from t17s r6e and t18s r7e intersect with the natural boundaries of the dunefield.