These footprints are recent, but sometimes they can be preserved for thousands of years (Sand Footprints | Alkali Flat Trail @ White Sands National M… | Flickr)

FOSSILS ET AL

Ancient Footprints

If you’ve never been before, White Sands National Park in New Mexico is a must visit. This massive dune field is shockingly white due to its composition of gypsum crystals, which is the largest of its kind on the entire planet. White Sands is home to a variety of unique species, including 40 types of moths that are only found here. Many of its inhabitants have evolved to match the white color of the dunes for protection.

This species of lizard is unique to White Sands (Source)

White Sands is undeniably beautiful, but it has a much deeper history lurking beneath it. During the last Ice Age, this region was covered in lakes and rivers, which would be unrecognizable today. This made it a hot spot for all sorts of ancient American animals like dire wolves and giant sloths (yes, America used to have giant sloths). All these fossils make it an active site for paleontologists to uncover old bones. However, in 2021, a discovery was made that radically reshaped our understanding of human history.

This modern desert used to be teeming with water and life (Source)