1998 Map of Acolita

About this map

The Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range dominates the northern half of this landscape, reflecting the military's long-standing footprint in the California desert. Running southeast through the center of the sheet, the Niland-Glamis Road follows the boundary of the military reservation, passing the small settlement of Acolita. To the south, the terrain shifts into the shifting sands of the Algodones Dunes, an expansive dune system that contrasts with the rocky slopes of Chocolate Mountain above. The introduction of water into this arid environment is represented by the Coachella Canal, which skirts the edge of the East Mesa. This infrastructure highlights the mid-century efforts to reclaim desert lands for agricultural and industrial use, even as large swaths remained dedicated to defense training operations.