National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service:  U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
White Sands National Monumentripples second page
view map
text size:largestlargernormal
printer friendly
White Sands National Monument
For Teachers
Photo of sand avalanching  

Did You Know?
While the wind piles the sand grains into dunes, the dunes move forward under the force of gravity. As the leading edge of the dune ("slipface") gets steeper, gravity pulls an avalanche of sand down the slipface, moving the dune forward.

Last Updated: January 18, 2009 at 15:12 EST