Click on a numbered feature to get a description.
1) Organ Mountain Landslide
2) White Sands National Monument: This is perhaps one of the best places to study sand dunes in action. Perhaps the most unique aspect of the park are the Gypsum sands. Rainfall in the surrounding mountains dissolves the Gypsum and carries it down to its final destination, the Tularosa Basin. Here you can observe dome, transverse, barchan and parabolic dune types. Also within the park is a large playa called Lake Lucero. The sands make a great spot to view sunsets and desert wildlife.
3) Picacho Peak: This peak is a prominent feature in the Las Cruces area. The peak dates back to Oligocene in age. Picacho Peak is a high, pointed peak composed of flow banded rhyolite. It is an example of a rhyolite dome, blisters on the landscape are the result from lava that didn't quite make its way to the surface.
4/5) Kilbourne and Hunts Hole: Both of these features are related to the West Potrillo Basalt Field located just Southwest of Las Cruces. These features are the result of a phreatomagnetic eruption. This explosive eruption occurs when rising magma intercepts the water table, causing the water to flash to steam and explode violently. The results are craters as large as a mile in diameter.
6) Providence Cone
7) Gila National Forest
8) Lincoln National Forest
9) Guadalupe Mountains
10) Dry Playa Lakes: The water in playa lakes doesn't last long; ranging from a few hours to months. After the water evaporates, the playa surface is composed of mud cracks and salt crystals. The surface of the playa actually allows you to determine the relative depth of the water table. A soft, puffy surface means that the salts on the playa surface were deposited by evaporating ground water; inferring a shallow water table. A hard, smooth surface indicates frequent flooding and a deep water table. Along the rim of the playa is the pediment zone. This is the area where larger sediments accumulate. Landforms found here are alluvial fans and bajadas.
