Recreation at White Sands National Monument in Southern New Mexico - stock photo

Alamogordo, New Mexico, USA - August 8, 2017: Visitors at White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico wait to see the full moon rising in early August of 2017. Kite flying is also a popular pasttime at the tourist attraction. The monument stays open during full moon nights to provide views of the moon reflecting off the white sands. Musicians also sometimes perform during full moon programs at the monument, which is 16 miles southwest of Alamogordo, New Mexico. The attraction has 275 square miles of desert sand, making it the largest expanse of gypsum sand dunes in the world.