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1953 Map of Acolita

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Acolita
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Chocolate Mountains dominate this mid-century topographic survey, showing a landscape defined by industrial extraction and military utility. Extensive mining operations such as the Black Eagle Mine and Mary Lode Mine are visible in the high desert terrain, connected by rugged Jeep Trails. The lowlands are marked by the Southern Pacific Road corridor, where small rail-aligned settlements like Acolita and Mesquite served as vital points in the desert transit network.

South of the mountain range, the transition into the Sand Hills is sharply defined by the Aerial Gunnery Range and its Naval Reservation Boundary, reflecting the intensification of military land use in Imperial County during this era. Irrigation infrastructure appears on the western edge with the East Mesa Canal, while natural drainage features like Mammoth Wash highlight the characteristic dry-wash geography of the Colorado Desert.