Naturally, many of the landforms around Las Cruces are typical of deserts around the world. These landforms are shaped both by wind, and by water. It is often assumed that wind is the most important erosional agent in the desert. While wind does contribute to erosion, it plays a much more important role in sediment deposition. The most well known wind formed sediment deposits are sand dunes.
Dunes are mounds or ridges of wind-deposited sand.
As wind encounters an obstruction such as a boulder or bush, it must flow over and around the obstruction. Two zones of dead air are created in front of and behind the obstruction. Sand grains being transported by the wind are deposited in this area of dead air. Sand dunes are not fixed in place, they migrate in the prevailing wind direction. Sand grains are moved up the gentle windward slope, and accumulate on the steeper downward side.